| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08112817B2 |
User-centric authentication system and method
A system for authenticating a user in a network. The authentication system includes a computer resource having secure data, an authentication computing system providing dynamic authentication of a user accessing the computer resource, and a user communication device for communicating between the user and the computer resource. The computing system presents a challenge for which a specified response is required based upon a pre-determined function. Access is then granted by the computing system upon providing the correct response to the presented challenge by the user. |
| US08112815B2 |
Preventing unauthorized distribution of media content within a global network
One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing media content while preventing its unauthorized distribution. The method includes transmitting from a client to an administrative node a request for delivery of an instance of media content (IMC); determining which content source (CS) of a plurality of CSs to provide delivery of the IMC, provided the client is authorized to receive the IMC; transmitting to the client an access key and a location of the IMC; transmitting from the client to the CS a second request and the access key; in response to receiving the second request and the access key, transferring the IMC from the CS to the client; transmitting from the client to the administrative node an indicator indicating a successful transfer of the IMC; and generating a transaction applicable to the client and associated with the transfer of the IMC to the client. |
| US08112814B2 |
Information processing apparatus, access control method, access control program product, recording medium, and image forming apparatus
A disclosed information processing apparatus to which an application can be added determines whether access to a resource attempted by the application is allowable, based on access control information defining whether the application is given access authority to access the resource. Information regarding the attempted access is saved in a log file in the event that the application attempts to access the resource. |
| US08112812B2 |
Recording medium and device administration apparatus
In a recording medium, a device administration program for making a computer execute the following steps using a usage restriction definition file is recorded. The usage restriction definition file is capable of defining at least one administration function among a plurality of administration functions of a device and includes a device password for obtaining an authentication of the device. The steps comprises a step of reading a usage availability definition information of the administration functions and the device password from the usage restriction definition file, a step of transmitting the read device password to the device, a step of recognizing usage availabilities of a plurality of administration functions of the device based on the read definition information, and a step of executing processing for using only usage available administration function based on the recognized results. |
| US08112807B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for erasing memory on wireless devices
A wireless device having a memory is provided. The memory or a protected portion of the memory is subject to a hard erasure of the memory vs. a soft erasure of the memory if a plurality of sensors indicate a threat to the device exists. The threat may be detected by a plurality of sensors, such as, a timer, a connectivity sensor, a location sensor or geo-fence, a breech sensor, an authentication procedure or the like. |
| US08112805B2 |
Methods and systems that selectively resurrect blocked communications between devices
Data communications between devices are selectively blocked and resurrected based on error notifications. Data communications from one or more source devices to one or more intended destination devices are selectively blocked based on content of the data communications. The blocked data communications are stored in a database. A blocked data communication is retrieved from the database in response to an error notification from one of the source devices and/or from one of the destination devices. The retrieved data communication is then sent to the intended destination device. |
| US08112803B1 |
IPv6 malicious code blocking system and method
An agent on a network is preconfigured to automatically respond to neighborhood discovery by sending an advertisement having a spoof IPv6 address. A spoof IPv6 address includes a spoof NIC value that is a value that identifies a network interface card not being used on the network. Thus, upon receipt of the advertisement by the infected host computer system, malicious code on the infected host computer system probes the spoof IPv6 address space defined by a network section value of the spoof IPv6 address, the spoof NIC value, and the range of possible values of the assigned host ID value of the spoof IPv6 address. As there are no interfaces within the spoof IPv6 address space except that associated with the agent, propagation of the malicious code is slowed or defeated and connections are directed to the agent. |
| US08112802B2 |
Verification of outsourced data streams
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to verifying query results of an untrusted server. A data owner outsources a data stream to the untrusted server, which is configured to respond to a query from a client with the query result, which is returned to the client. The data owner can maintain a vector associated with query results returned by the server and can generate a verification synopsis using the vector and a seed. The verification synopsis includes a polynomial, where coefficients of the polynomial are determined based on the seed. The data owner outputs the verification synopsis and the seed to a client for verification of the query results. |
| US08112798B2 |
Hardware-aided software code measurement
Described is an independent computation environment that is built into one or more hardware components of a computer system, wherein the independent computation environment hosts a logic that measures the health of other software code that executes in memory. Examples of ways to measure health include performing a mathematical computation such as a computing a hash/digital signature on the software code in the memory, and/or evaluating statistical information related to the execution of the code and/or the code's being loaded into memory. By executing the logic in an independent computation environment, the health of software code may be measured against policy/metadata in a tamper-proof or tamper-resistant environment. When the software code measurement does not comply with the policy, some action may be taken action to penalize the computer system. |
| US08112795B2 |
Non-contact type semiconductor device, mobile terminal device, and communication system
There are provided a non-contact type semiconductor device, a mobile terminal device, and a communication system capable of suppressing unauthorized read, thereby assuring security. The non-contact type semiconductor device records information for identifying a read device of a communication destination and a request from a read device in a recording area. Moreover, the non-contact type semiconductor device holds authentication information and access authority, requests the read device to send authentication information, correlates the authentication information with the authentication information and access authority held, and executes the request from the read device according to the correlation result. Furthermore, by performing mutual communication by using the read device, the non-contact type semiconductor device, and a mobile terminal device using the non-contact type semiconductor device, it is possible to suppress unauthorized read, thereby assuring security. |
| US08112793B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming system includes a client apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The client apparatus includes an authentication data storing area defining section that produces an authentication data storing area in an external storage medium; a writing section that writes authentication data into the authentication data storing area; and an image data storing section that stores image data into the external storage medium. The image forming apparatus includes a searching section, an input section, an authenticating section, and an image processing section. The searching section reads authentication data from the external storage medium. Identification information is received from a user through the input section. The authenticating section performs authentication based on the identification information and the authentication data. The image processing section processes the image data. When the authentication has been established, the searching section reads image data from the external storage medium. |
| US08112784B1 |
Device comprising multiple channel selectors
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a television converter device, such as a set-top-box (STB), that includes two or more channel selectors and the necessary control electronics to allow each of the multiple channel selectors to operate independently. STB embodiments of the present invention may be connected to and support one or more TVs. The STB embodiments allow each connected TV to receive television programming independent of what any other connected TVs may be receiving, at a significant cost savings over providing separate STBs for each TV. |
| US08112782B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US08112773B2 |
Disk transfer mechanism, and disk drive device
A recording medium drive device includes: a holding unit configured to hold a recording medium inserted from a slot; a link mechanism including a plurality of arms turnably connected to each other; an eject lever activated in response to the turning motions of the link mechanism for pushing the recording medium to eject the recording medium from the slot; a drive source configured to supply a drive force for the turning operations of the link mechanism; an urging spring disposed in the link mechanism for applying an urging force in the ejecting direction to the recording medium when the recording medium is inserted from the slot; and position regulating means disposed at a position to suppress the urging spring for the recording medium, for regulating the arms of the link mechanism at the ejecting time. |
| US08112771B2 |
Managing component programs within a service application
Methods, systems, and computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform methods in accordance with embodiments hereof, for managing component programs within a service application according to a service model. Initially, configuration settings, which can be administered to the component programs, are extracted from the service model. An instantiation process is initiated to manage the service application in accordance with the changes to a level of load on the service application and/or to specifications within the service model. The instantiation process includes deploying, or identifying as available, the component programs within the data center, and automatically propagating formalized values derived from the configuration settings throughout the deployed component programs. These derived formalized values are installed into the component programs, thereby providing for functionality of the service application consistent with the service model. |
| US08112768B2 |
Real-time web applications
A computer-implemented method for updating a web user interface on a client device is provided. A router back-boned to the Internet communicates with the client device web-user interface data defined in markup language to dynamically update the web-user interface on the client device. The router contains no logic regarding the web-user interface running on the client device. The client device has a browser server for dynamically updating the web-user interface through downloading and caching the data from the router. The browser server on the client device has (i) a user interface model of the web-user interface running on the client device defined in Javascript, and (ii) a JavaScript Runtime Engine for dynamically converting the downloaded and/or cached web-user interface markup language data into JavaScript objects. The web-user interface is dynamically updated by combining steps (i) and (ii). |
| US08112758B2 |
Methods and apparatus for resource allocation in partial fault tolerant applications
Techniques are disclosed for allocation of resources in a distributed computing system. For example, a method for allocating a set of one or more components of an application to a set of one or more resource groups includes the following steps performed by a computer system. The set of one or more resource groups is ordered based on respective failure measures and resource capacities associated with the one or more resource groups. An importance value is assigned to each of the one or more components, wherein the importance value is associated with an affect of the component on an output of the application. The one or more components are assigned to the one or more resource groups based on the importance value of each component and the respective failure measures and resource capacities associated with the one or more resource groups, wherein components with higher importance values are assigned to resource groups with lower failure measures and higher resource capacities. The application may be a partial fault tolerant (PFT) application that comprises a set of one or more PFT application components. The set of one or more resource groups may comprise a heterogeneous set of resource groups (or clusters). |
| US08112755B2 |
Reducing latencies in computing systems using probabilistic and/or decision-theoretic reasoning under scarce memory resources
Architecture that employs probabilistic and/or decision-theoretic model(s) of application usage to predict application use and in view of bounded or limited-availability memory. The model(s) is applied with cost-benefit analysis to guide memory management in an operating system, in particular, for both decisions about prefetching and memory retention versus deletion or “paging out” of memory of lower priority items, to free up space for higher value items. Contextual information is employed in addition to computer action monitoring for predicting next applications to be launched. Prefetching is optimized so as to minimize user perceived latencies. |
| US08112753B2 |
Delaying initiation of virtual machine support process by random delay value generated based on unique ID associated with the virtual machine
An embodiment relates generally to a method of managing resources in a virtual environment. The method includes detecting an instantiation of a virtual machine and determining a delay value based on a unique identifier. The method also includes delaying an initiation of at least one support process for the virtual machine by the delay value. |
| US08112752B2 |
Method for performing a software process, controller and lithographic apparatus
A method for performing a software process, such as a real time software process, is disclosed, the process having a plurality of tasks, the method including starting a task of the plurality of tasks of the process, monitoring a progress of the started task, comparing the progress with a desired progress, if the progress does not meet the desired progress, skipping at least a part of a task of the plurality of tasks, and performing the process making use of an outcome of the tasks which have been completed. The monitoring of the progress may be performed upon completion of the task or at a predetermined moment in time. |
| US08112751B2 |
Executing tasks through multiple processors that process different portions of a replicable task
A developer can declare one or more tasks as being replicable. A library manages all tasks that are accessed by an application, including replicable tasks, and further establishes a task manager during requested task execution. During execution, the library generates a plurality of worker threads, and each of the worker threads is assigned to be processed on one of a plurality of different central processing units. When one or more worker threads have finished processing assigned tasks, and other threads are still busy processing other tasks, the one or more idle worker threads copy over and process replicable tasks assigned to the other, busier worker thread(s) to help with processing. The system can also synchronize processing of the replicable task by the plurality of different worker threads and different processors to ensure no processing discrepancies. |
| US08112750B2 |
Computer system
In scheduling shared processing that has a higher priority than LPAR processing, giving precedence to physical CPUs running idle LPARs prevents prolonged hold-up of LPAR processing. In a system is comprised of multiple physical CPUs, multiple LPARs to which these physical CPUs are allocated and which execute programs under their guest OSes, and a management program managing these LPARs, a few additional units are introduced: a guest OS monitoring unit that can grasp the states of guest OSes running on these LPARs and a dispatcher unit that allocates one of these physical CPUs to shared processing requested by the management program, which has a higher priority than LPAR processing. When a request for shared processing arises, the dispatcher unit interrogates the guest OS monitoring unit and, based on the information obtained from it, gives priority of allocation to the physical CPU processing an idle LPAR. |
| US08112744B2 |
Method and system for creating self-assembling components through component languages
A system for self-assembling software components is described herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a first and second set of language components, where each language component defines at least one part of language runnable on a computer by associating a piece of grammar of the language with at least one software component that implements the piece of grammar. The system further includes a request broker that upon being provided with a section of code written in the language matches syntactic appearances of the first set of language components in the section of code and granting logic to grant access to the language components of the first set whose syntactic appearances the request broker matched, in order to enable self-assemblage of the language components of the first set with language components of the second set. |
| US08112735B2 |
Affinity-based clustering of vectors for partitioning the columns of a matrix
A computer system for partitioning the columns of a matrix A. The computer system includes a processor and a memory unit coupled to the processor. Program code in the memory unit, when executed by the processor, implements the method. Matrix A is provided in a memory device and has n columns and m rows; wherein n is an integer of at least 3; and wherein m is an integer of at least 1. The n columns is partitioned into a closed group of p clusters, p being a positive integer of at least 2 and less than n. The partitioning includes an affinity -based merging of clusters of pairs of clusters of the matrix A based on an affinity between the clusters in each pair of clusters being merged. Each cluster consists of one or more columns of matrix A. The p clusters are stored in a computer-readable storage device. |
| US08112734B2 |
Optimization with adaptive body biasing
A method incorporating adaptive body biasing into an integrated circuit design flow includes the steps of (A) adding adaptive body biasing input/outputs (I/Os) during a bonding layout stage of the integrated circuit design flow, (B) floorplanning the integrated circuit design, (C) generating an adaptive body biasing mesh and (D) generating a layout of the integrated circuit design based upon a plurality of adaptive body biasing corners. |
| US08112728B1 |
Early timing estimation of timing statistical properties of placement
A performance estimation module estimates the performance values of user designs in early phases of compilation and accounts for the performance variability introduced by subsequent compilation phases. The user design is parameterized. The performance estimation model outputs a probability distribution function of estimated performance values of the user design, based upon this parameterization. The performance estimation model is created by parameterizing sample designs. The sample designs are compiled and analyzed to determine their performance values. To account for random variability in compilation phases, the module compiles and analyzes sample designs multiple times. The performance estimation model is created from the relationship between sample designs' performance values and their parameterizations. A regression analysis may be used to determine this relationship. The performance estimation model can be updated with the analysis of compiled user designs. The performance values can include timing, power, and resource consumption. |
| US08112726B2 |
Phase-shifting masks with sub-wavelength diffractive optical elements
The present invention discloses a method of designing a set of two tiled masks, as well as, a mask including: a first tile, the first tile being transparent to a light, the first tile having a first characteristic linear dimension that is 15% or less of a wavelength of the light; a second tile, the second tile being transparent to the light, the second tile having a second characteristic linear dimension that is 15% or less of the wavelength of the light; and a third tile, the third tile being opaque to the light, the third tile having a third characteristic linear dimension that is 15% or less of the wavelength of the light. |
| US08112725B2 |
Writing pattern producing method, photomask manufacturing method, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A writing pattern producing method includes obtaining a width of an overlapping portion of first and second patterns, determining whether the width of the overlapping portion is greater than a predetermined width, producing a writing pattern according to a first method when the width of the overlapping portion is determined to be greater than the predetermined width, producing a writing pattern according to a second method when the width of the overlapping portion is determined to be smaller than the predetermined width, the first method being to produce the writing pattern by dividing a composite pattern of the first and second patterns into a plurality of graphic forms which have widths not smaller than the predetermined width and do not overlap with one another, and the second method being to produce the writing pattern from the first and second patterns so that the overlapping portion is written repeatedly. |
| US08112720B2 |
System and method for automatically and graphically associating programmatically-generated media item recommendations related to a user's socially recommended media items
A system and method for automatically, programmatically generating media item recommendations on a graphical user interface (GUI) based on a friend media item recommendation selected by a user. In the preferred embodiment, a selected media item recommendation is displayed in the GUI. Received friend media item recommendations are displayed in a list in relevance order adjacent to the selected media item. A programmatically-generated media item recommendation list is automatically generated based on relevance to the selected media item and displayed in another adjacent area to the selected media item recommendation. In this manner, a user can easily play the selected media item recommendation, and then browse the friend media item recommendations and the automatically updated programmatically-generated media item recommendations, which are both provided in their own respective adjacent areas, in order of closest relationship to the selected media item recommendation, at anytime. |
| US08112719B2 |
Method for controlling gesture-based remote control system
A method for controlling a gesture-based remote control system (100) is provided to control a controlled electronic appliance by detecting an image of a user's gesture. A movement area in the image of the user's gesture detected. The user's gesture is judged as an adjusted gesture when the movement of the motion region is continual. The controlled electronic appliance is controlled by a key controlling command based on the adjusted gesture and sent by a wireless transmitter. |
| US08112716B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof, and computer program
An information processing apparatus comprising display unit configured to display a window, accepting unit configured to accept a resize instruction of the displayed window together with a scroll instruction indicating whether or not to scroll display contents within the window, and control unit configured to control a size of the window and a scrolling of the display contents within the window based on contents of the resize instruction and the scroll instruction, wherein when the scroll instruction indicates that the display contents are to be scrolled, the control unit changes the window to a size indicated by the resize instruction, and scrolls the display contents according to a change amount of the window, and when the scroll instruction indicates that the display contents are not to be scrolled, the control unit changes the window to a size indicated by the resize instruction, and suppresses a scrolling of the display contents. |
| US08112713B2 |
Method for providing alias folders in a document management system
Interactive collaboration within a secure, server-based social community integrated with a secured document management system that includes at least one of a plurality of professional functionalities and a plurality of integrative functionalities to members having a member virtual identity within the community. Members of the community may create a personalized custom set of folders within the document management system, which customized arrangement allows the members to view documents, files, and folders as they desire. By creating these personalized custom “alias” folders, the members rearrange folders to be more accessible to themselves, while leaving the actual files and folders unchanged as viewed by every other member of the community. Members or a network administrator may also grant permission to other members of the network to access alias folders of each other member. |
| US08112709B2 |
Automatic adaptive document printing help system
An automatic printing assistant application for documents in electronic form is provided by virtue of the present invention. In certain embodiments, an elongated thumbnail image of all or part of an electronically stored document is displayed. A section of the document of interest to the reader is emphasized. Movement of the emphasized area in the elongated thumbnail image assists the user with the selection of sections or pages of the document for printing. The operation of the assistant is personalizable for a particular user by setting of a sensitivity level and selection of relevant topics of interest. Some embodiments of the assistant are also capable of improved performance over time by both automatic and manual feedback. The assistant is usable with many popular electronic document formats. |
| US08112708B2 |
Predictive text dictionary population
A method and system for populating a predictive text dictionary is provided. A connection between a handheld electronic device and a network is detected. The handheld electronic device is operable to allow a user to enter text. The handheld electronic device has a predictive text dictionary that is operable to receive and employ sets of words. User preferences for the handheld electronic device are retrieved. The predictive text dictionary of the handheld electronic device is populated with a set of words at least partially based on the user preferences. |
| US08112707B2 |
Capturing reading styles
Disclosed herein is a method of capturing the reading style, reading plan and private ontology of a user, collectively referred to as the worldview. The process of capturing and applying the reading style includes the following activities: determining the reading style of the user, creating a worldview of the user using the reading style, applying the worldview to a document corpus, determining the information of interest, and reporting the desired information to the user in a report format. The worldview of the user is constructed out of the reading style and the reading plan of the user. Optionally, the user can choose to use a predetermined external ontology to create his/her worldview. |
| US08112705B2 |
Magnifying the text of a link while still retaining browser function in the magnified display
A web browser magnifies the content of the whole page in memory and displays the relevant portion in a magnifier with hyperlinks. The web browser then maps the magnified display to the original document. Thus, manipulation of the mouse in the magnified display may result in an action with respect to the original document. The user may then select a link for navigation within the magnified display. Alternatively, the web browser may analyze the original web page and construct magnifier contents on the basis of either the document object model, extensible markup language (XML), or hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of the magnified portion. |
| US08112703B2 |
Aggregate tag views of website information
A technique is provided for providing an aggregate tag view of a website that comprises a plurality of webpages that each has a corresponding URL. A tag is a set of one or more words that have been associated with a URL and is typically created by a user to describe content of the webpage corresponding to the URL. Initially, a request is received to display information pertaining to a website. In response to the request, a plurality of tags associated with the website is displayed. A first subset of the plurality of tags is associated with a particular URL. A second subset of the plurality of tags is associated with one or more URLs that are not the particular URL. Alternatively, or in addition to an aggregate tag view tag-related information for each URL of the website is provided, in response to the initial request. |
| US08112698B2 |
High speed turbo codes decoder for 3G using pipelined SISO Log-MAP decoders architecture
A baseband processor is provided having Turbo Codes Decoders with Diversity processing for computing baseband signals from multiple separate antennas. The invention decodes multipath signals that have arrived at the terminal via different routes after being reflected from buildings, trees or hills. The Turbo Codes Decoder with Diversity processing increases the signal to noise ratio (SNR) more than 6 dB which enables the 3rd Generation Wireless system to deliver data rates from up to 2 Mbit/s. The invention provides several improved Turbo Codes Decoder methods and devices that provide a more suitable, practical and simpler method for implementation a Turbo Codes Decoder in ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or DSP codes. A plurality of parallel Turbo Codes Decoder blocks is provided to compute baseband signals from multiple different receiver paths. Several pipelined max-Log-MAP decoders are used for iterative decoding of received data. A Sliding Window of Block N data is used for pipeline operations. In a pipeline mode, a first decoder A decodes block N data from a first source, while a second decoder B decodes block N data from a second source during the same clock cycle. Pipelined max-Log-MAP decoders provide high speed data throughput and one output per clock cycle. |
| US08112696B2 |
Apparatus for providing error correction capability to longitudinal position data
A method and apparatus for providing error correction capability to longitudinal position data are disclosed. Initially, data are encoded via a set of even LPOS words and a set of odd LPOS words. The encoded data are then decoded by generating a set of syndrome bits for each of the LPOS words. A determination is then made as to whether or not there is an error within one of the LPOS words based on its corresponding syndrome bits. |
| US08112680B2 |
System and device with error detection/correction process and method outputting data
A system, device and related method are used to communicate data via a plurality of data lanes including a selected data lane. In a first mode of operation, payload data and related supplemental data are communicated via the plurality of data lanes including the selected data lane. In a second mode of operation, only payload data is communicated via the plurality of data lanes, except the selected data lane. |
| US08112678B1 |
Error correction for programmable logic integrated circuits
Systems and methods for detecting and correcting errors in programmable logic ICs are provided. In one embodiment, a scrubber periodically reads the memory cells in a programmable logic IC, detects and corrects any errors, and writes the corrected contents back into the memory cell. In another embodiment, regions of memory cells in a programmable logic IC each have associated error correcting circuitry which operates to continuously detect and correct errors as they occur. Error correcting circuitry can further be designed to reduce static hazards. It may be more desirable to design programmable logic IC routing architectures that reduce the number of memory cells needed to implement a given function. Error correcting circuitry can be provided for configuration memory or for an embedded memory block on a programmable logic IC. |
| US08112676B2 |
Apparatus and method to generate and collect diagnostic data
A method to generate and save diagnostic data in the event of an application error, wherein the method supplies a first computing device comprising a microprocessor and a first computer readable medium and an application encoded in said computer readable medium, wherein said application comprises an error handling module. The method further supplies a second computing device comprising a microprocessor and a second computer readable medium and an error data management module encoded in said second computer readable medium, wherein said error data management module comprises a diagnostic data generating module, wherein said first computing device is in communication with said second computing device. The method executes the application, detects by the error handling module an application error, and detects by the error data management module the application error. The method then receives by the error handling module a completion signal from the error data management module, and provides an error signal from the error handling module to a support center. |
| US08112675B2 |
Filesystem directory debug log
A system for handling debug log messages in a computerized device under test that has a filesystem and a communications link. A virtual debug folder provides one or more virtual folders wherein the debug log messages are stored as synthesized filenames. The virtual folders are then viewable via the communications link as if actual folders of the filesystem and the synthesized filenames are viewable via the communications link as if actual filenames of the filesystem. |
| US08112672B2 |
Diagnostics and error reporting for common tagging issues
Content requests are debugged in accordance with a presence of a flag in a request to a publisher. A document received from the publisher contains a script to debug requests for content to a content provider. The requests are examined to determine the presence of informational, warning and error conditions. The conditions are written to a debugging user interface. |
| US08112671B1 |
Method and apparatus for a programming language having fully undoable, timed reactive instructions
A method and apparatus for providing an undoable programming language. More specifically the present invention relates to providing a fully undoable programming language, where the language includes a fully undoable core language portion and a conventional language portion. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of encoding a general-purpose undoable programming language to enable fully undoable instructions includes encoding a fully undoable core imperative language portion having a plurality of undoable core instructions, each of the plurality of undoable core instructions to perform at least one undoable operation upon execution, and the at least one undoable operation being fully undoable until final termination of a program written using any of the plurality of undoable core instructions. The method also includes encoding a conventional language portion including a plurality of conventional instructions, each of the plurality of conventional instructions to perform at least one permanent operation upon execution, the at least one permanent operation being permanent upon final termination of the execution of the conventional instruction and each of the plurality of conventional instructions being callable by at least one of the plurality of undoable core instructions. |
| US08112670B2 |
Gaming apparatus having memory fault detection
In the information process device 1, the fault inspection program is stored in the fault inspection program area 13b of the ROM 13 provided on the mother board 11 which is independently arranged from the hard disk 24, thereby even if a fault occurs in the hard disk 24 which is inspected by the fault inspection program, it can be guaranteed that the fault inspection program properly operates. |
| US08112666B2 |
Message producer with message type validation
Message type validation occurs at a message producer before a message is sent to a message destination. A message producer system includes an administrator component, which stores message type parameters associated with a message destination. A message is created for the message destination and a validation component at the message producer system checks the created message for conformity with the stored message type parameters for the message destination. An error is reported if the message type does not conform to the stored message type parameters associated with the message destination. The validation component checks the created message for conformity after a publish call by the message producer system and before a send call and, therefore, prevents an invalid or non-conforming message from being sent. |
| US08112664B2 |
Using volume snapshots to prevent file corruption in failed restore operations
Restore software executing in a computer system may invoke a snapshot of a target volume before restoring a plurality of files from a backup image to the target volume. If the restore operation fails before all the files are restored to the target volume then the restore software may use the snapshot to return one or more of the files to their original states as they existed before the restore operation was initiated. |
| US08112663B2 |
Method to establish redundancy and fault tolerance better than RAID level 6 without using parity
An apparatus comprising a logically contiguous group of at least three drives, a first loop, a second loop, and a compression/decompression circuit. Each of the drives comprises (i) a first region configured to store compressed data of a previous drive, (ii) a second region configured to store uncompressed data of the drive, (iii) a third region configured to store compressed data of a next drive. The first loop may be connected to the next drive in the logically contiguous group. The second loop may be connected to the previous drive of the logically contiguous group. The compression/decompression circuit may be configured to compress and decompress the data stored on each of the drives. |
| US08112659B2 |
Reducing recovery time for business organizations in case of disasters
An aspect of the present invention reduces the recovery time for business organizations in case of disasters. In one embodiment, a disaster recovery system containing a primary site and a backup site (implemented as a cluster) is maintained. Application instances are executed in both the primary site and the backup site, with the number of instances executed on the backup site being fewer than that executed on the primary site. During normal operation, user requests received are processed using only the instances executing in the primary site, while the instances executing in the backup site are used in a standby state. On identifying that a disaster has occurred, the user requests received immediately after identification of the disaster are processed using only the instances executing in the backup site. The cluster at the backup site is then scaled out to add application instances until a desired level/percentage is achieved. |
| US08112650B2 |
Adaptive method for system re-acquisition in power saving mode operation in a mobile wiMAX system
Methods and apparatus for re-acquiring a WiMAX network after a relatively long power saving mode (e.g., sleep or idle mode) using a “pre-wakeup” scheme are provided. According to this pre-wakeup scheme, a mobile station (MS) may power up receiving circuitry to search for the current channel or, if unsuccessful, a neighbor channel. After a successful network search during sleep mode, the MS may return to sleep for the remainder of the sleep window until the circuitry is powered up a second time to wakeup and then listen for an expected message. By pre-waking up and searching before waking up for the expected message, the MS may counteract the effects of the potential error in the local oscillator frequency accumulated during the long sleep mode. In this manner, the message miss rate may be reduced, thereby saving power and extending the time in which the MS may operate between battery rechargings. |
| US08112648B2 |
Enhanced control of CPU parking and thread rescheduling for maximizing the benefits of low-power state
A system may comprise a plurality of processing units and a scheduler configured to maintain a record for each respective processing unit. Each respective record may comprise entries which may indicate 1) how long the respective processing unit has been residing in an idle state, 2) a present power-state in which the respective processing unit resides, and 3) whether the respective processing unit is a designated default (bootstrap) processing unit. The scheduler may select one or more of the plurality of processing units according to their respective records, and assign impending instructions to be executed on the selected one or more processing units. Where additional processing units are required, the scheduler may also insert an instruction to trigger an inter-processor interrupt to transition one or more processing units out of idle-state. The scheduler may then assign some impending instructions to these one or more processing units. |
| US08112647B2 |
Protocol for power state determination and demotion
A system may comprise a plurality of processing units, and a control unit and monitoring unit interfacing with the processing units. The control unit may receive requests for transitioning the processing units to respective target power-states, and specify respective target HW power-states corresponding to the respective target power-states. The monitoring unit may monitor operating characteristics of the system, and determine based on operating characteristics whether to allow the processing units to transition to the respective target hardware (HW) power-states. The control unit may be configured to change the respective target HW power-state to a respective updated HW power-state for each processing units for which it is determined that transition to its respective target HW power-state should not be allowed. The control unit may also be configured to infer a common target HW power-state based on the respective target HW power-states of processing units of a subset of the plurality of processing units, when the processing units of the subset of the plurality of processing units share at least one resource domain. |
| US08112641B2 |
Facilitating communication and power transfer between electrically-isolated powered device subsystems
A system employing power over Ethernet (PoE) technology may include at least one powered device and power sourcing equipment (PSE). The powered device may include a first powered device (PD) subsystem and a second powered device (PD) subsystem that is electrically isolated from the first PD subsystem. The powered device may also include an interface connecting the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem. The PSE may be operable to provide power to one or more of the PD subsystems through a link connecting the PSE to the powered device. Also, the first PD subsystem may be operable to receive a communication from and transfer power to the second PD subsystem through the interface while maintaining the electrical isolation. |
| US08112639B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting tampering of electronic equipment based on constrained time to obtain computational result
Tampering of electronic equipment may be detected by instructing the electronic equipment to perform at least one computational operation at the electronic equipment, such as hashing of at least some of the memory of the electronic equipment, to produce a result. The result is received from the electronic equipment. Tampering of the electronic equipment is detected if the result is not received within a constrained time of the instructing, even if the result is correct. Tampering also may be detected if the result is not correct. |
| US08112635B2 |
Data-mover controller with plural registers for supporting ciphering operations
A data processing system ciphers and transfers data between a first memory unit and a second memory unit, such as, for example, between a share memory architecture (SMA) static random access memory (SRAM) and a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). The system includes a ciphering engine and a data-mover controller. The data-mover controller includes at least one register having a field that specifies whether or not the transferred data should be ciphered. If the field specifies that the transferred data should be ciphered, the field also specifies the type of ciphering that is to be performed, such as a third generation partnership project (3GPP) standardized confidentially cipher algorithm “f8” or integrity cipher algorithm “f9”. |
| US08112634B2 |
Security-enhanced storage devices using media location factor in encryption of hidden and non-hidden partitions
Methods and devices for increasing or hardening the security of data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk drive, are described. A storage device provides for increased or hardened security of data stored in hidden and non-hidden partitions of a storage medium in the device. An algorithm may be utilized for deriving a key that is used to encrypt or decrypt text before it is read from or written to the hard disk. The algorithm accepts as input a specific media location factor, such as an end address or start address of the block where the text is being read from or written to, and a secret key of the storage component. The output of the algorithm is a final key that may be used in the encryption and decryption process. Thus, in this manner, the final key is dependent on the location of the block where the data is being written or read, thereby making it more difficult to tamper with the data, which may be stored in a hidden or non-hidden partition of a hard disk. |
| US08112632B2 |
Security devices, systems and computer program products
A security device having a knowledge input module obtaining knowledge data and a user data storage module storing user-specific data. A processor performs at least part of a user authorization process in response to the knowledge data and the user-specific data. An emitter in communication with the processor emits a signal indicative of the result of the user authorization process. |
| US08112631B2 |
Password input device, computer security system using the same and method thereof
A password input device includes a detection module, a recognition module, and an output module. The detection module is configured for detecting angular velocities and accelerations of hand movement. The recognition module includes a conversion unit, a character database, and an indexing unit. The conversion unit is configured for converting the detected angular velocities and accelerations, in analog format, into usable data. The indexing unit is configured for seeking a character corresponding to user input in the character database according to the usable data, and outputting the corresponding character. The output module is configured for receiving the corresponding characters from the indexing unit and determining the password. |
| US08112630B2 |
Device, system, and method for reporting execution flow of program
A device, system, and method for reporting an execution flow of a program is provided. The system for reporting an execution flow of a program includes a program-providing server that provides a program package having information related a predetermined execution flow, a user device that transmits an execution-flow-reporting message corresponding to a result of measuring and verifying the execution flow integrity of a program package with reference to the information related with execution flow, and an execution-flow-verifying server that limits providing of or execution of a program package by testing the execution-flow-reporting message. |
| US08112627B2 |
System for self-service recharging and method for the same
The present invention discloses a method for self-service recharging and a system for the same, relating to the security communications of online banking. The system comprises a client and a server. The method mainly comprises the steps of: 1) establishing a data security channel between the client and the server; 2) inputting an identifier by a user to a secure transaction device; 3) determining whether the identifier is legitimate; and if legitimate allowing the user to input a recharging operation message; 4) connecting to the server and transmitting a recharging operation request packet after receiving the recharging operation message; 5) verifying whether the secure transaction device is legitimate by the server according to information in a database stored natively, and if legitimate, deducting a recharging amount from a user account, recording an operation log, and transmitting a recharging permission command packet to the secure transaction device; and 6) conducting a recharging operation by the secure transaction device and recording an operation log. The present invention provides a way to conveniently and rapidly recharge. |
| US08112622B2 |
Chaining port scheme for network security
A networking method, microchip, and device are described in which a first security engine may be associated with a chaining port and configured to perform an inner processing for an inner layer of encryption for a frame of data, while a second security engine may be associated with an external port and configured to perform an outer processing for an outer layer of encryption for the frame of data. Control logic may be configured to instruct the first security engine to execute both a transmit operation and a receive operation of the frame of data in association with the inner processing. |
| US08112619B2 |
Systems and methods for accelerated loading of operating systems and application programs
Systems and methods for providing accelerated loading of operating system and application programs upon system boot or application launch are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for providing accelerated loading of an operating system comprises the steps of: maintaining a list of boot data used for booting a computer system; preloading the boot data upon initialization of the computer system; and servicing requests for boot data from the computer system using the preloaded boot data. In another aspect, a method for providing accelerated launching of an application program comprises the steps of: maintaining a list of application data associated with an application program; preloading the application data upon launching the application program; and servicing requests for application data from a computer system using the preloaded application data. |
| US08112615B1 |
Single cycle reduced complexity CPU
A single cycle RISC CPU. The single cycle RISC CPU includes an instruction decoder configured to perform an instruction fetch and an instruction decode. An arithmetic logic unit is coupled to the instruction decoder. The arithmetic logic unit is configured to perform an instruction execute and produce a resulting data output. A register file is coupled to the arithmetic logic unit. The register file includes a register input and a register output. The register file is configured to provide data for the instruction fetch via the register output and accept the resulting data output via the register input such that the instruction fetch, the instruction decode, and the instruction execute are performed in a single clock cycle. |
| US08112614B2 |
Parallel data processing systems and methods using cooperative thread arrays with unique thread identifiers as an input to compute an identifier of a location in a shared memory
Parallel data processing systems and methods use cooperative thread arrays (CTAs), i.e., groups of multiple threads that concurrently execute the same program on an input data set to produce an output data set. Each thread in a CTA has a unique identifier (thread ID) that can be assigned at thread launch time. The thread ID controls various aspects of the thread's processing behavior such as the portion of the input data set to be processed by each thread, the portion of an output data set to be produced by each thread, and/or sharing of intermediate results among threads. Mechanisms for loading and launching CTAs in a representative processing core and for synchronizing threads within a CTA are also described. |
| US08112609B2 |
Data management apparatus and method
A data management apparatus and method. The data management apparatus includes an input unit to receive a request to update information included in a predetermined master BAT (block allocation table) block of a plurality of master BAT blocks; and an update unit to record updated information to the predetermined master BAT block based on the update request. |
| US08112607B2 |
Method and system for managing large write-once tables in shadow page databases
Methods and systems for managing large write-once tables are described. In some embodiments, a relational database management system includes a space allocation module that utilizes both a logical space allocation scheme, as well as a physical space allocation scheme, to allocate space in units (e.g., pages) having two different sizes—small pages and big pages. For instance, small pages are logically allocated with a conventional converter module, which manages a converter table for mapping logical pages to physical pages, while big pages are physically allocated with an object directory manager, which manages big objects comprised of big pages. |
| US08112605B2 |
System and method for allocation of organizational resources
System and methods for storing electronic data is provided, where the system comprises a storage manager component and a management module associated with the storage manager component. The management module is configured to receive information related to storage activities associated with one or more storage operation components within the storage operation system under the direction of the storage manager component. The management module is adapted to predict storage operation resource allocations based on the received information related to the storage activities. |
| US08112602B2 |
Storage controller for handling data stream and method thereof
A storage controller for handling data stream having data integrity field (DIF) and method thereof. The storage controller comprises a host-side I/O controller for receiving a data stream from a host entity, a host-side I/O controller for connecting to a physical storage device, and, a central processing circuitry having at least one DIF I/O interface for handling DIF data so as to reduce the number of memory access to the main memory of the storage controller. |
| US08112595B1 |
Command cancellation channel for read—modify—write operation in a memory
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a command cancellation channel (CCC) including a plurality of stages, the CCC configured to receive a first memory address of a sequence of memory addresses and a corresponding first modification command, determine that at least a first stage of the plurality of stages includes the first memory address and a corresponding second modification command, and erase the first memory address or cancel the second modification command while shifting the first memory address and the second modification command from the first stage to a second stage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08112594B2 |
Efficient point-to-point enqueue and dequeue communications
Systems and methods for writing and/or reading data to a point-to-point shared memory communication mechanism are provided according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a determination may be made whether a first memory location in the cache of a general purpose multi-core processor includes an empty symbol. If the first memory location includes the empty symbol, then data may be placed in the first memory location in the cache. If the first memory location does not include the empty symbol, then waiting until it does. In another embodiment, a determination may be made whether a first memory location of a general purpose multi-core processor includes the empty symbol. If it does not, then data may be read from the first memory location and/or the empty symbol may be written into the first memory location. If the first memory location does include the empty symbol, then pausing. |
| US08112591B1 |
System and method for detection of non-deterministic memory access events
A concurrent and asynchronous system may be managed by monitoring the performance of a plurality of operations that access a designated region of memory. In that region of memory, an occurrence of a potentially non-deterministic event can be detected when at least one of the operations is a write operation. The occurrence of the potentially non-deterministic event may then be recorded. |
| US08112588B2 |
Sorting cache objects based on access counters reset upon garbage collection
Some embodiments of a method and an apparatus to improve locality of references for objects have been presented. In one embodiment, an access counter is provided to each of a set of objects in a computing system. The access counter is incremented each time a respective object is accessed. In response to a request to organize the objects, the objects are sorted by their respective counts of access in the access counters. |
| US08112581B1 |
Caching in multicore and multiprocessor architectures
A multicore processor comprises a plurality of cache memories; a plurality of processor cores, each associated with one of the cache memories; one or more memory interfaces providing memory access paths from the cache memories to a main memory; and one or more directory controllers for respective portions of the main memory, each associated with corresponding storage for directory state. Each corresponding storage provides space for maintaining directory state for each memory line that is indicated as stored in at least one of the cache memories such that the space for maintaining directory state is independent of the size of the main memory. |
| US08112580B2 |
Disk drive having multiple disk surfaces accessible by a read/write head and nonvolatile memory for continuous data transfer
A magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) has at least one read/write head that accesses more than one disk surface. The HDD is able to transfer data to and from the host computer seamlessly without interruption during the time the head is being moved from one disk surface to another disk surface. Nonvolatile solid state memory is associated with pairs of disk surfaces. During the time of a head transfer from one disk surface in the pair to the other disk surface, data is read from or written to the associated nonvolatile memory. The data is first read from or written to one disk surface, then from or to the nonvolatile memory, and then, after completion of the head transfer, from or to the other disk surface, thereby allowing seamless uninterrupted transfer of data. |
| US08112579B2 |
Selecting a destination tape recording device for saving data
Selecting a destination tape recording device, out of a plurality of tape recording devices, for saving data. Particularly a technique for selecting a tape recording apparatus whose performance is optimal for data to be saved, thereby improving data backup performance in a plurality of tape recording apparatuses. |
| US08112576B2 |
Calibrated transfer rate
Methods, systems, and devices are described for the implementation of a novel architecture to support a calibrated rate for the transfer of circuit configuration data. Sets of configuration data from a memory may be transferred to volatile memory to support reconfigurable circuit elements, for example, for use in a clock generator. Upon system power-up, there may be a default speed for the transfer of the configuration data. Techniques are described to first transfer calibration data upon power-up; the transferred calibration data may then be used to set an accelerated speed for a remaining portion of the transfer. |
| US08112572B2 |
Apparatus for swapping high-speed multimedia signals
An apparatus for swapping output high-speed multimedia signals. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a plurality of inputs coupled to a multimedia transmitter; a plurality of outputs coupled to a plurality of pins of a multimedia interface connector; and a controller for generating a control signal for configuring an order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs, wherein the order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs is set to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of inputs to the multimedia transmitter and to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of outputs and the plurality of pins of the multimedia interface connector. |
| US08112570B2 |
Pipelined buffer interconnect with trigger core controller
A method and system to transfer a data stream from a data source to a data sink are described herein. The system comprises a trigger core, a plurality of dedicated buffers and a plurality of dedicated buses coupled to the plurality of buffers, trigger core, the data source and the data sink. In response to receiving a request for a data transfer from a data source to a data sink, the trigger core assigns a first buffer and a first bus to the data source for writing data, locks the first buffer and first bus, releases the first buffer and the first bus upon indication from the data source of completion of data transfer to the first buffer, assigns the first buffer and first bus to the data sink for reading data and assigns a second buffer and second bus to the data source for writing data thereby pipelining the data transfer from the data source to the data sink. |
| US08112564B2 |
Hard disk drive staggered spin-up mechanism
According to one embodiment, a host bus adapter (HBA) is disclosed. The HBA includes one or more link layer engines, one or more ports, each of the one or more ports associated with one of the one or more link layer engines and token passing logic having a shift register associated with each of the one or more link layer engines. A first link layer engine enables a first storage device coupled to an associated port to spin-up whenever the first link layer engine detects that a first shift register has a first value. |
| US08112563B2 |
Arrangement comprising a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip connected thereto
An arrangement including a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip connected thereto, where the second semiconductor chip is additionally connected to electrical loads and drives these electrical loads on the basis of a timing which is prescribed to it by load control data, and where the first semiconductor chip transmits to the second semiconductor chip the aforementioned load control data and pilot data which control the second semiconductor chip, and where the second semiconductor chip transmits to the first semiconductor chip diagnostic data which represent states prevailing in the second semiconductor chip or events which occur. The diagnostic data are transmitted via a first transmission channel and the load control data and the pilot data are transmitted via a second transmission channel. |
| US08112559B2 |
Increasing available FIFO space to prevent messaging queue deadlocks in a DMA environment
Embodiments of the invention may be used to manage message queues in a parallel computing environment to prevent message queue deadlock. A direct memory access controller of a compute node may determine when a messaging queue is full. In response, the DMA may generate an interrupt. An interrupt handler may stop the DMA and swap all descriptors from the full messaging queue into a larger queue (or enlarge the original queue). The interrupt handler then restarts the DMA. Alternatively, the interrupt handler stops the DMA, allocates a memory block to hold queue data, and then moves descriptors from the full messaging queue into the allocated memory block. The interrupt handler then restarts the DMA. During a normal messaging advance cycle, a messaging manager attempts to inject the descriptors in the memory block into other messaging queues until the descriptors have all been processed. |
| US08112557B2 |
Method and apparatus for tape drive data logging
Method and apparatus for logging of data within a data storage system, such as a tape drive library. The tape drive library includes a central storage (memory) providing storage space assigned to each tape drive in the tape drive library and allowing each tape drive to directly store data there, that is to log data files. The logging of the data files is at the instigation of each tape drive and not via polling, so as to perform logging synchronous with tape drive events. In one version, the tape drives are coupled to the central storage via an Ethernet network and the log files conform to a standard file protocol, such as a network file system. |
| US08112553B2 |
Data allocation in a distributed storage system
A method for data distribution, including distributing logical addresses among an initial set of devices so as provide balanced access, and transferring the data to the devices in accordance with the logical addresses. If a device is added to the initial set, forming an extended set, the logical addresses are redistributed among the extended set so as to cause some logical addresses to be transferred from the devices in the initial set to the additional device. There is substantially no transfer of the logical addresses among the initial set. If a surplus device is removed from the initial set, forming a depleted set, the logical addresses of the surplus device are redistributed among the depleted set. There is substantially no transfer of the logical addresses among the depleted set. In both cases the balanced access is maintained. |
| US08112552B2 |
Default peripheral device selection based on location
In accordance with one or more aspects of the default peripheral device selection based on location, a current location of a computing device is obtained. A mapping record of default peripheral devices to locations is accessed to identify a default peripheral device corresponding to the current location of the computing device, and the identified default peripheral device is returned as a current default peripheral device for the computing device. Additionally, an identification of a peripheral device to be a default peripheral device can be received. A mapping of the current location of the computing device to the identified default peripheral device can also be stored. |
| US08112548B2 |
Method for providing a clip for viewing at a remote device
A method and apparatus is directed to provide a clip of content to a remote device, such as a mobile device. The invention enables an end-user to determine content from a networked device, such as a personal computer. The determined content may include content from a webpage, graphic image, audio file, file, and the like. The determined content may be selected using a clip mechanism within a browser, or other application. The clip mechanism may provide a pop-up window, field entry, or the like, that enables entry of an identifier associated with the remote device. The clipped content may then be formatted based on a configuration of the remote device. The formatted clipped content may be transmitted to the remote device using a variety of messaging mechanisms, such as a SMS message, which includes a Universal Resource Locator (URL) to the clipped content. |
| US08112545B1 |
Distributed network address translation control
A distributed network address translation (NAT) system is used to transport data packets between private and public network domains. A packet modifier substitutes public and private network address information in packets that are crossing between public and private domains to and from the end system. A network application server has an address mapping table and communicates with the packet modifier over a control protocol. The network application server generates address mappings which the packet modifier uses for modification of data packets passing through it. |
| US08112544B2 |
System and method for providing customizable options on a wireless device
A system and method for enabling users to send and receive messages and other information from mobile devices and enabling users to access server-based information using mobile devices over wireless data networks are disclosed. The present invention enables users to customize information that is received and sent from mobile devices. For example, the user may select to receive emails (or other correspondences) from a particular individual or group of individuals. The user may also select to receive a particular type of types of emails (or other correspondences), such as the ones marked as high priority or otherwise designated as being important. Other variations may also be implemented. In addition, the user may customize responses, replies and other outgoing information from the user's mobile device. Mobile device users may also customize various aspects of views and applications. Examples of customizable options may include home page (e.g., personal, any URL), time zone, date format, font format, language and other options. |
| US08112537B2 |
Trickle sync protocol
Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for providing trickle syncing. In one aspect, a system includes a data repository to store one or more data records and a server in communication with the data repository. The server is designed to access the data repository in response to a user request to perform at least one of the following: access the one or more data records, add a data record, and modify the one or more data records. The system also includes a client application in communication with the server. The client application is designed to receive the user request through a client process; encapsulate a protocol that provides communications between the client process and the server; and forward the received user request to the server using the encapsulated protocol. |
| US08112533B2 |
Data transmission device
A data transmission device to transmit a data file to an external device is provided. The data transmission device includes a data file storing unit to store a data file to be transmitted, a communication session establishing unit, which is capable of establishing a plurality of communication sessions between the data transmission device and the external device, a data transmitting unit to transmit data included in the data file and divided in portions concurrently through the plurality of communication sessions to the external device. |
| US08112532B2 |
System and method for tearing down individual IP communication sessions in multiple IP stack devices
Embodiments of the invention are used to provide a system and method for tearing down and reclaiming an IP address from a multi-IP stack device based on configurable timer parameters that provide a network operator with independent control over each protocol-specific IP network layer session. Dedicated idle and session timers for each IP network layer session are implemented at the network layer of various network nodes in order to independently tear down IPv4 and IPv6 network sessions while maintaining the underlying link layer connection. In embodiments, the IP protocol-specific idle and session timers are processed by the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) or the Home Agent (HA). To achieve user session level control of IP protocol-specific network layer sessions, embodiments of the invention provide for storing the network layer idle and session timer attributes at the Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server prior to passing such attributes to the PDSN or the HA for processing during the dual-stack communication session. |
| US08112527B2 |
Virtual machine management apparatus, and virtual machine management method and program
A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network generates a new virtual machine on a server device in accordance with a request from a management terminal. At that time, for one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated, the virtual machine management apparatus refers to an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines. The score indicates appropriateness of a condition that each combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device. Thus, the virtual machine management apparatus computes an index value indicative of appropriateness of a condition that the new virtual machine is to be allocated to the server device. Then the virtual machine management apparatus determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value. |
| US08112524B2 |
Recommending moving resources in a partitioned computer
In an embodiment, a partition is discovered that transferred more than a threshold amount of data between the partition and a first resource. A determination is made that the partition transferred more than a threshold amount of data with a second resource. A determination is made that the data path distance between the first and second resources is more than a threshold. A third location is found that is open and a determination is made that the data path distance between the first resource and the third location is less than a threshold, and in response, a recommendation is made to move the second resource to the third location. |
| US08112521B2 |
Method and system for security maintenance in a network
A system and method for monitoring a network and detecting network vulnerabilities is provided. A communication associated with one or more programs is issued to one or more devices in a network and the response from the devices is detected and analyzed. Based on the analysis, a device response is identified as a threat response if it represents at least an alert, an unexpected response or a response time-out indicating that the device did not response to the communication. The vulnerability of the network is determined based on the threat responses of the devices. |
| US08112516B2 |
Selective user notification based on IP flow information
An example embodiment of the present invention provides a process that uses IP flow information to selectively notify users of an application server of the server's unavailability. In the example embodiment, the process, which might run on a system comprising a router, monitors IP flow records as to dropped packets and learns that an application server has become unavailable. The process then uses the IP flow records to identify active users of the application server, for example, by passing a source IP address to a presence service. Once the process has identified an active user, the process determines a means of notification for the user, which might be through the presence service, and transmits a notification to the user as to the unavailability of the application server. In the example embodiment, the process transmits a later notification as to the availability of the application server, using reverse camp-on functionality. |
| US08112513B2 |
Multi-user display proxy server
A multi-user host computer system comprises processor blades combined with terminal services blades to provide acceleration and proxy server functions for supporting a variety of remote terminals. For each remote terminal, the terminal services blade and proxy server functions may improve the video and graphics performance. This allows the multi-user host computer system to more efficiently support multiple users. The terminal services blade may include a graphics processor that manages a virtual display for each remote terminal and provides selective updates of sub frame data. Where appropriate, the sub frame data is encoded and transmitted over the network to the remote terminals. The terminal services processor also offloads and optimizes video data streams for the intended remote terminals and their respective network connections. Processor blades may include a baseboard management controller that utilizes advanced features for supporting remote KVM administration. |
| US08112512B2 |
Method and system for dynamic plugging of varbinds
A method and system for plugging varbinds in a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) notification is provided. The SNMP notification for an event is sent to customers involved with the event. A pre-defined varbind list is associated with the SNMP notification. The pre-defined varbind list provides the customers with details of the event. The customer analyzes the event with the information in the varbinds, and sends a request for additional varbinds for further analysis of the event. The additional varbinds are configured in the pre-defined varbind list at run time. |
| US08112511B2 |
Network resource monitoring and measurement system and method
A method and system for analyzing and measuring multiple sources of data over a communications network (18) so as to ascertain information or usage of one or more resources, such as resource servers (2). A data collection and processing means (20) collects and processes the data sources which are forwarded to a reporting server (34) as a combined data source made available to interested parties. |
| US08112509B2 |
Administering devices with domain state objects
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a method for administering devices. Such exemplary embodiments include receiving a domain state object, identifying an action in dependence upon the domain state object, and executing the action. In many exemplary embodiments, receiving a domain state object includes receiving a signal to download the domain state object from a mobile sensor, and downloading the domain state object from the mobile sensor. |
| US08112508B1 |
Delivering data from device management services to devices using bulletin system
A system for targeting bulletins to specific electronic devices includes a device management (“DM”) service, one or more electronic devices, and a database for storing bulletins. Generally, the DM service creates a bulletin, associating targeting criteria specifying one or more electronic devices with the bulletin. An electronic device submits a service request to the DM service identifying bulletins previously received (if any) by the device and a device identification number assigned to the device. Using the information from the service request, the DM service queries the database for bulletins available for the device. Upon locating an available bulletin, the DM service notifies the device and after receiving a request for the bulletin from the device, the DM service transmits the available bulletin. Alternately, the DM service can transmit the bulletin without first notifying and receiving a request from the device. |
| US08112504B2 |
System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence
An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber's use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber's preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing. |
| US08112501B2 |
Centralized registration for distributed social content services
A system and method are directed towards enabling centralized registration for managing a selective display of visitor information to distributed social networking websites. A visitor may enter selective personal information, and determine what information is made available on a social networking webpage. The visitor may then return to the social networking website to view selective visitor information, such as within a reader roll. A visitor to a social networking website may select to not have their information displayed at selective a social networking website, while still being displayed at another social networking website. In one embodiment, selecting to not display their information may be performed by ‘mousing’ over their information and selecting a display option. Social networking websites may look to a centralized registration system to determine whether to display the visitor information, while still being able to obtain information about the visitor, and/or provide benefits to the visitor. |
| US08112500B2 |
Technique of relaying communications between client apparatus and server apparatus
A relay system for obtaining a program from a server and returning the program to a client by forwarding a message received from a client to the server. |
| US08112499B2 |
Administering devices in dependence upon user metric vectors
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering devices that include creating a user metric vector including a plurality of disparate user metrics, creating a user metric space including a plurality of metric ranges, determining whether the user metric vector is outside the user metric space, identifying an action in dependence upon the user metric vector if the user metric vector is outside a user metric space, and executing the action. |
| US08112498B2 |
Mapping between objects representing different network systems
To provide an easy and simple mapping between objects representing different network systems A and B. In the configuration where data of an object, a system component, is available in another system, it is provided with an intermediate model 102 which is mutually accessible. The intermediate model has an intermediate object 103corresponding to a component. Each system performs mapping to the intermediate object 103 an item of a corresponding component 106 of the system, and transmits data to an mapped item. In addition, the system accesses the intermediate object to obtain data corresponding to the item when component data of the other system is needed. |
| US08112489B1 |
Client processing in response to managed system state changes
Described are techniques for processing changes in data storage system state information. Communication are sent and received between a client and a data storage system over a network connection. The data storage system includes a plurality of service processors. A server of the data storage system communicates with the client over the network connection to perform management requests. In response to determining that there has been a change in the data storage system state information indicating that the user interface needs updating, user interface update processing is performed in accordance with said change. If at least one of the plurality of service processors is in an unhealthy state, said user interface update processing includes automatically requesting additional information from the data storage system about an unhealthy service processor, analyzing said additional information, and updating at least a portion of the user interface displayed in accordance with said analyzing. |
| US08112487B2 |
System and method for message filtering
A collaborative messaging system and method includes, in a communications engine, a plurality of message interrogators to process a message from a sender to a receiver. The plurality of message interrogators includes a message adjudicator configured to compare message information from the sender with message information obtained by the message adjudicator and to modify the message information from the sender to a more restrictive value. The plurality of message interrogators further includes a message validator configured to allow or deny the message based upon the modified message information. |
| US08112483B1 |
Enhanced challenge-response
In some embodiments, a technique for challenging a message comprises receiving a message, providing a captcha, providing a machine-solvable puzzle, and sending the captcha and the machine-solvable puzzle. |
| US08112482B1 |
System and method for securing access to electronic mail
A secure e-mail messaging system is positioned to receive an original e-mail message from a sender before the message is delivered to a recipient. To secure HTML mail, the system inserts a resource tag such as a Web bug and/or an HTML frame tag in the message, and it removes and stores a portion of the original e-mail message. The system then sends the modified e-mail message to the recipient. A reader of the message, who may or may not be the original recipient, opens the e-mail message with an e-mail client, which sends a resource request in response to the resource tag. The system receives the resource request and determines whether the reader is authorized to read the original e-mail message. If the reader is authorized to read the e-mail message, then it sends the removed portion to the authorized reader. |
| US08112479B2 |
Method, system and device for establishing a peer to peer connection in a P2P network
A method and system for establishing a peer to peer connection in a P2P network and a peer device in the P2P network, wherein the method comprises of the following: (1) a management node in the P2P network receives a resource request; (2) the management node selects one or more peers which meet the demand from a resource list established previously according to the logon information of the other peers in the P2P network to return it to a resource request peer; (3) the connection is established between the said resource request peer and the said peers which meet the demand. |
| US08112477B2 |
Content identification for peer-to-peer content retrieval
Described is a technology in which client content requests to a server over a wide area network (WAN) are responded to with hash information by which the client may locate the content among one or more peer sources coupled to the client via a local area network (LAN). The hash information may be in the form of a segment hash that identifies multiple blocks of content, whereby the server can reference multiple content blocks with a single hash value. Segment boundaries may be adaptive by determining them according to criteria, by dividing streamed content into segments, and/or by processing the content based on the content data (e.g., via RDC or content/application type) to determine split points. Also described is content validation using the hash information, including by generating and walking a Merkle tree to determine higher-level segment hashes in order to match a server-provided hash value. |
| US08112471B2 |
System and method for website performance optimization and internet traffic processing
A system for optimizing the performance of a website that runs on one or more HTTP servers and is configured to receive HTTP requests from one or more clients via user agents and provide HTTP responses to the one or more clients includes an intermediary component configured to connect to the clients and the servers via network connections. The intermediary component includes a traffic management system (TMS) that includes means for managing HTTP requests originating from the clients and targeting the servers and HTTP responses originating from the servers and targeting the clients and means for redirecting the HTTP requests to the intermediary component. The intermediary component further includes a traffic processing system that includes means for receiving the redirected HTTP requests and the HTTP responses and means for applying optimization techniques to the redirected HTTP requests and the HTTP responses. |
| US08112468B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing an operation with a plurality of sub-operations in a configurable IC
Some embodiments provide a method of performing a mathematical operation on a set of operands. The mathematical operation includes several sub-operations. The method examines several bits of at least one operand at a time and depending on the value of these bits, reconfigures a single logic circuit to perform one of the sub-operations to generate a partial result of the mathematical operation. In some embodiments, the logic circuit is reconfigured by receiving a first set of configuration data that cause the logic circuit to reconfigure to perform a first sub-operation operation and a second set of configuration data that cause the logic circuit to reconfigure to perform a second sub-operation. In some embodiments, the logic circuit receives different inputs based on the value of the bits being examined. In some embodiments, the mathematical operation is multiplication and the sub-operations are addition and subtraction. |
| US08112464B2 |
On-demand access to container file directories
One or more levels of a stub directory from a container file are written out to a storage device. The stub directory initially includes identifiers of one or more directories in the one or more levels of the stub directory but not identifiers of additional directories in the one or more directories. In response to a request to access one of the one or more directories, identifiers of one or more additional directories and/or one or more files in the one directory are extracted from the container file. |
| US08112463B2 |
File management method and storage system
Files stored in a storage system are grouped in a metadata server, and storage servers discretely storing these files are instructed to detect file duplication and to remove duplicate data. The storage servers detect duplicate data by comparing file fragments stored by the storage servers themselves with each other. In a case where duplicate data is detected, the storage servers delete the duplicate data. |
| US08112461B2 |
System and method for storing item attributes in an electronic catalog
An electronic catalog is provided that stores items and attributes associated with the items. One or more of the attributes may have more than one value. Items are stored in an item table with different attributes for items stored in different rows in an attribute table. Additional items may be added to a catalog by adding additional rows to the item table, with attributes related to the additional items added as rows into the attribute table. Particular attributes may have multiple values, and attributes with multiple values are associated with sub-items that correspond to different attribute trees or attribute sets associated with the item. Searching can be performed for attribute values and search results returned indicating all items and sub-items that satisfy the search criteria. |
| US08112459B2 |
Creating a logical table from multiple differently formatted physical tables having different access methods
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for constructing a database abstraction model that includes logical fields that map to a logical table. The logical table is constructed using data extracted from multiple, differently formatted physical tables. The logical table allows logically related data stored in multiple databases to appear as data from a single table. Relationships between data stored in multiple, differently formatted databases are maintained and logical fields that include multiple access methods that map to the multiple databases are replaced with a single access method that maps to the logical table. Data relationships that are defined for the database abstraction model are modified to reflect the logical table. |
| US08112457B2 |
System and method for dynamically building a web interface per data collecting rules
A system and associated method for dynamically building a web interface per data collecting rules. An interface module receives a request to perform a business transaction from a caller application. The interface module determines a series of interface screens pursuant to data collecting rules associated with the requested business transaction. The series of interface screens have a subsection which enables a user of the caller application to provide a value of an attribute component of the subsection. The value provided by the user is employed in performing the business transaction. A result of the business transaction is produced to the caller application. |
| US08112454B2 |
Methods and systems for ordering content items according to learned user preferences
A method of segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having associated descriptive terms. The method also includes receiving user search input and, in response thereto, presenting a subset of content items. The method includes receiving user selection actions and analyzing the selections to learn the user's preferred descriptive terms. The method includes expressing the learned preferred descriptive terms as a segmented probability distribution function having at least one fine grain segment and at least one coarse grain segment. In response to subsequent search input, the method calls for selecting and ordering a collection of content items by promoting the ranking of content items associated with the learned preferred descriptive terms of the user according to the differentiation provided by the segmented probability distribution function. |
| US08112453B2 |
Systems and methods for retrieving data
A system and method for obtaining information responsive to a legal discovery request directed at an enterprise having a plurality of databases that potentially include information responsive to the legal discovery request, including structured databases and at least one unstructured database. A plurality of taxonomies are provided, each of which describes a structure of one of the structured databases. An ontology is provided that describes data relationships between the databases. A native application is identified, which is configured to access at least one but not all of the databases associated with the enterprise. The native application is modified to include search functionality for accessing all of the databases associated with the enterprise. A request is received from the user, via the modified native application, to search the plurality of databases associated with the enterprise for information responsive to the legal discovery request. Information included in the request, the ontology and the taxonomies are then used to search the plurality of databases associated with the enterprise. A list of search results responsive to the search request is presented with the modified native application. In response to a user selection of a search result from the list, an application required to view the selected search result is automatically launched if the modified native application lacks functionality required to display the selected search result. |
| US08112451B1 |
Using intensional category assignment for a configuration management database
A configuration management database system includes a plurality of configuration items. Each of the configuration items includes at least one property relating to a component of an IT system. The system also includes a plurality of intensional category definitions that provide dynamic categorization of the plurality of information items. Each of the intensional category definitions includes a predicate that is operable to identify an input one of the configuration items as a member of the category based on the at least one property in the input one of the configuration items. The configuration management database system also includes at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query. |
| US08112449B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a content object access point
Systems and methods for accessing and distributing content objects. Various of the systems and methods utilize a number of content object entities that can be sources and/or destinations for content objects. A combination of abstraction and distinction engines can be used to access content objects from a source of content objects, format and/or modify the content objects, and redistribute the modified content object to one or more content object destinations. In some cases, an access point is included that identifies a number of available content objects, and identifies one or more content object destinations to which the respective content objects can be directed. |
| US08112448B2 |
Table classification device, table classification method, and table classification program
The present invention aims to facilitate integration of databases by classifying a plurality of tables in databases into a group of similar tables. A table classification device 1 includes a semantic classifying unit 20 carrying out classification with considering meanings of columns which form a database and a statistical classifying unit 30 carrying out classification based on statistical information of the columns. The tables are classified hierarchically by combining a classification method of the semantic classifying unit 20 and a classification method of the statistical classifying unit 30. |
| US08112446B2 |
Centralized content repositories for distributed learning management systems
A learning system, including a centralized reusable learning object (RLO) repository that provides content to users, and communicates user performance data, via SCORM, to and from any one or more distributed, remote SCORM conformant learning management systems. The learning management system may include one or more pointer SCO's, which may point to a content delivery engine in the RLO repository. |
| US08112443B2 |
Method and system for executing a database query
For a database management system installed in a data processing system, the database management system for managing a database having partitions for storing table data based on a partitioning schema, in which each partition has an associated partition identifier, and in which the database has database catalog information associated therewith, a method for executing a query against the database is disclosed. The method includes identifying a partition identifier in accordance with the partitioning schema, selecting the partition identifier based on the contents of the query and the database catalog information, and executing the query against the identified partition. The method improves the execution of queries while minimizing the consumption of network resources. |
| US08112442B2 |
Communication device
A communication device is provided, wherein specific individual information in a database that the communication device stores is viewable from a terminal connected to a network to promote information protection. A communication device can communicate with a terminal through the network. A storage stores the database including a plurality of records, each of which describes individual information. A receiver receives a readout-request, from the terminal, of a specific record in the database. A file creating module creates a terminal-viewable file based on one of the records, from the specific individual information in the record. A transmitter transmits, to the terminal, the file created based on the record designated by a received readout-request. |
| US08112441B2 |
Systems and methods for data indexing and processing
Systems and methods are disclosed that allow for indexing, processing, or both of information from physical media or electronic media, which may be received from a plurality of sources. In embodiments, a document file may be matched using pattern matching methods and may include comparisons with a comparison reference database to improve or accelerate the indexing process. In embodiments, information may be presented to a user as potential matches thereby improving manual indexing processes. In embodiments, one or more additional actions may occur as part of the processing, including without limitation, association additional data with a document file, making observations from the document file, notifying individuals, creating composite messages, and billing events. In an embodiment, data from a document file may be associated with a key word, key phrase, or word frequency value that enables adaptive learning so that unindexed data may be automatically indexed based on user interaction history. |
| US08112436B2 |
Semantic and text matching techniques for network search
In one embodiment, access a search query comprising one or more query words, at least one of the query words representing one or more query concepts; access a network document identified for a search query by a search engine, the network document comprising one or more document words, at least one of the document words representing one or more document concepts; semantic-text match the search query and the network document to determine one or more negative semantic-text matches; and construct one or more negative features based on the negative semantic-text matches. |
| US08112435B2 |
System and method for modifying internet traffic and controlling search responses
A system, method and program product for modifying data packets being communicated between a client and a Web application to enhance the Web experience of a user. A system is disclosed for enhancing searches being performed by a search engine application, and monitoring data packets passing through a network node to identify a data packet containing an original search query; modifying the data packet containing the original search query to create a modified search query; and forwarding the modified search query to the search engine application in place of the original search query. |
| US08112433B2 |
Method, system and program for enabling resonance in communications
A method, computer program product, and system for collecting and processing feedback information in organizational communications. The system includes an information processing apparatus, a communications mechanism, a database, and a mechanism for collecting data. The communications mechanism operates with the information processing apparatus for providing communications to a user of the information processing apparatus. The database operates in conjunction with the information processing apparatus and the communications mechanism. The database stores data. The mechanism for collecting the data operates in response to the communications related to the user by the communications mechanism. |
| US08112432B2 |
Query rewriting with entity detection
A system receives a search query, determines whether the received search query includes an entity name, and determines whether the entity name is associated with a common word or phrase. When the entity name is associated with a common word or phrase, the system generates a link to a rewritten query, performs a search based on the received search query to obtain first search results, and provides the first search results and the link to the rewritten query. When the entity name is not associated with a common word or phrase, the system rewrites the received search query to include a restrict identifier associated with the entity name, generates a link to the received search query, performs a search based on the rewritten search query to obtain second search results, and provides the second search results and the link to the received search query. |
| US08112427B2 |
Criminal background investigation
A technique for conducting criminal background investigations addresses the problems of false negatives; false positives; and offense severity. The foregoing problems are managed by pre-scoring records within a data management system and comparing these scores with initial criteria. The resulting values are quickly returned using minimum real-time computational power. A result score is represented by three distinct values or three dimensions which can easily be represented by any 3-D graphical display or easily sorted highest to lowest for each dimension. |
| US08112426B2 |
Document scoring based on document content update
A system may determine a measure of how a content of a document changes over time, generate a score for the document based, at least in part, on the measure of how the content of the document changes over time, and rank the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score. |
| US08112421B2 |
Query selection for effectively learning ranking functions
A learning system for a search ranking function model may include a computer program that iteratively refines the model using new queries and associated documents from an unlabeled training set. The unlabeled training set may include a set of queries for which the associated documents have not been labeled as “relevant” or otherwise labeled. The new queries may be selected based on a similarity to and an accuracy of each neighbor from a labeled training set, such as a labeled validation set. Upon selection, the documents associated with the new queries may be labeled. The new queries and their associated documents may be accumulated into a labeled training set, such as a labeled training set, and a refined model may be learned based on the augmented labeled training set. The model may be iteratively refined until it is determined that the model is adequate. |
| US08112418B2 |
Generating audio annotations for search and retrieval
Embodiments of a computer system to determine one or more annotation items associated with an audio file are described. During operation, the computer system provides an interactive environment in which multiple users listen to the audio file within a time interval. Next, the computer system receives one or more annotation items associated with the audio file from the multiple users. Then, the computer system displays the received one or more annotation items from the multiple users in the interactive environment, thereby enabling the multiple users to provide feedback to a given user in the multiple users. |
| US08112416B2 |
Method and system for semantic publish-subscribe services
A semantic publish-subscribe system, including: a plurality of subscribers; a plurality of publishers; and a server that receives and stores subscriptions that are described in web ontology language (OWL) graph patterns from the plurality of subscribers and that receives events that are described in semantic graphs formed by OWL assertions from the plurality of publishers, wherein when the server receives an event from a publisher, the server expands the OWL assertions of the event using a reasoner to produce an expanded event, the server matches the expanded event to a subscription, and then, the server notifies a subscriber whose interest matches the event. |
| US08112412B1 |
Automatic software categorization and recommendations
Attempts by a user to download executable files with unacceptable reputations are detected, and recommendations for similar files with good reputations are made to the user. More specifically, a user's web browsing is tracked, and terms describing software applications are extracted from browsed pages. When a user attempts to download an executable file, a corresponding notification including recently extracted terms is transmitted to a categorization component, which receives such information from many users. The categorization component stores the received information in a database. This maintained database identifies files that are available for download, as well as corresponding extracted terms and reputational scores. If a user initiates a download of an executable file with an unacceptable score, the categorization component identifies executable files in the database with related extracted terms, but with acceptable reputations, to recommend to the user as alternatives. |
| US08112410B2 |
Method for searching across instant message systems and interconnecting server
A method for searching across instant message systems and an interconnecting server are disclosed in the present invention. The method includes: searching in a SIMPLE IM system by a WV-IMPS user, and searching in a WV-IMPS system by a SIMPLE IM user. The interconnecting server includes a message input/output module and a message processing and converting module. The technical solution of the present invention seamlessly connects the search services of the WV-IMPS instant message system and the SIMPLE instant message system, and thus solves the problem on interconnecting search functions between different types of instant message systems. |
| US08112407B2 |
Selecting a second content based on a user's reaction to a first content
Embodiments include a device, a system, a computer program product, and a method. A system embodiment includes: a display surface operable to display electronic content in a manner perceivable by a person; a sensor apparatus operable to acquire data indicative of a response by the person to a first electronic content displayed on the surface; an analytic circuit operable determine an indication of an expression by the person corresponding with the displayed first electronic content—the determination based on the data indicative of a response; a characterization circuit operable to determine an attribute of the displayed first electronic content; a query circuit operable to cause a search for a second electronic content corresponding to the indication of expression and to the attribute of the first electronic content; and a chooser circuit operable to select the second electronic content from a result of the search. |
| US08112404B2 |
Providing search results for mobile computing devices
Search results are provided for mobile computing devices. Search results are retrieved based on a search term. Each of the search results is assigned to one or more categories. The categories and the assigned search results are provided to the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device is adapted to display each of the categories and a partial list of the search results for each of the categories. |
| US08112401B2 |
Analyzing externally generated documents in document management system
The document management system has a Native Template database including a list of templates for one or more types of documents having common characteristics and a Conversion Database including a list of one or more data points associated with each listed document type, one or more descriptive text entries associated with each listed data point, and proximity range information relating to the location of the data point within the descriptive text. The locations of words, sentences, paragraphs, and sections within the externally generated document are recorded and a document type is selected from the Native Template database that has common characteristics. A data point is selected from the template and the introduced document is searched for Possible Data Points. A determination is made as to whether Possible Data Point values are located within a Proximity Range. A cumulative Evaluation Score is calculated for each Possible Data Point value. The Possible Data Point with the highest score is recorded. These steps are repeated until each data point has been selected. |
| US08112400B2 |
Method for collecting data from semiconductor equipment
A method for collecting data from semiconductor equipment includes selecting a plurality of data values to request from semiconductor equipment and assigning each of the data values to a chamber. Each chamber is associated with an engine that processes the data values in the associated chamber to detect a fault in the semiconductor equipment. The method also includes determining an order to receive the data values from the semiconductor equipment, and, after the order for the data values is determined, communicating a setup message requesting the semiconductor equipment to communicate the data values in the predetermined order. The method further includes receiving the data values from the semiconductor equipment and providing each of the received data values to the particular engine associated with the chamber of the data value. |
| US08112397B2 |
Automatically adjusting a number of backup data sources concurrently backed up to a storage device on a server computer
Various embodiments of a system and method for backing up data to a backup server computer are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the method, a group of backup data sources may be associated with a writer module on the backup server computer. Each backup data source may comprise data to be backed up from one of a plurality of client computer systems. The writer module may write the data from each of the backup data sources in the group to a target storage device in order to concurrently backup each backup data source to the target storage device. The writer module may also keep track of the rate at which data is written to the target storage device. The number of backup data sources in the group may be automatically adjusted based on the write rate, e.g., in order to maximize throughput to the target storage device. |
| US08112394B2 |
Long-lived data transactions
In one embodiment, a method for facilitating long-lived data transactions includes starting a data transaction during a first user session, storing data associated with the data transaction in a temporary storage table, and ending the data transaction during a second user session using contents of the temporary storage table. |
| US08112390B2 |
Method and system for merging extensible data into a database using globally unique identifiers
A method of merging data from one database into another database uses metadata identifiers to indicate the type of data. One of the databases can be stored on a medical device, and the other of the databases can be stored on a computer. When transferring data from the first database to the second database, the metadata identifiers are used to identify and merge common data types. |
| US08112387B2 |
Reporting on facts relative to a specified dimensional coordinate constraint
A received report query specifies a dimension coordinate constraint and an associated grain for the dimension coordinate constraint. At least one query is generated to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection. A result of providing the at least one query to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection is processed. The processed result includes an indication of every dimension coordinate satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint and having a particular value at the associated grain, and the processed result further includes facts of the dimensionally-modeled fact collection that are specified by at least one other dimension coordinate indicated by the processed result having the particular value at the associated grain and not satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint. |
| US08112381B2 |
Multivariate analysis of wireless sensor network data for machine condition monitoring
Machine condition monitoring on a system utilizes a wireless sensor network to gather data from a large number of sensors. The data is processed using a multivariate statistical model to determine whether the system has deviated from a normal condition. The wireless sensor network permits the acquisition of a large number of distributed data points from plural system modalities, which, in turn, yields enhanced prediction accuracy and a reduction in false alarms. |
| US08112379B2 |
Policy processor for configuration management
A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not. |
| US08112377B2 |
Client-side rule engine for executing business rules in rich internet applications
A client-side business rule engine for executing business rules, at a client, in a rich internet application is disclosed. A set of business rules and a fact base are compiled at a server in accordance with a platform definition model, such that the compiled rules and facts are formatted to conform for use with a business rule engine based on the platform specified in the platform definition model. The business rule engine, embodied in a code module, is served to a requesting web browser application along with a subset of the compiled business rules and facts. At the client, the business rule engine evaluates conditions expressed in the business rules in light of facts received from the server, and facts derived at the client. |
| US08112374B2 |
Hierarchical ant clustering and foraging
A clustering method yields a searchable hierarchy to speed retrieval, and can function dynamically with a changing document population. Nodes of the hierarchy climb up and down the emerging hierarchy based on locally sensed information. Like previous ant clustering algorithms, the inventive process is dynamic, decentralized, and anytime. Unlike them, it yields a hierarchical structure. For simplicity, and reflecting our initial application in the domain of textual information, the items being clustered are documents, but the principles may be applied to any collection of data items. |
| US08112369B2 |
Methods and systems of adaptive coalition of cognitive agents
Coalitions from interactions and adaptations of cognitive map agents are evolved using an algorithm. A population of agents are seeded with cognitive map variants characterizing different cultures or different affiliations. The algorithm evolves this population by modifying the cognitive maps using a modified Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. The modifications include modification to weights of the cognitive map, and the structure of the cognitive map of the global best (gbest) in the neighborhood is imitated according to a weighted random selection, based on the commonality of the node characteristic in the neighborhood. The end results indicate whether a coalition is possible and what cognitive maps emerge. These results are visualized on a 2D grid and measured with a clustering metric. |
| US08112367B2 |
Episodic memory with a hierarchical temporal memory based system
A hierarchy of computing modules is configured to (i) learn a cause of input data sensed over space and time, and (ii) determine a cause of novel sensed input data dependent on the learned cause. When determining the cause of the novel sensed input data, the computing modules determine likely sequences based on observed inputs. Information identifying one or more of those likely sequences and indexes of observed elements in those sequences may then be stored in external memory to facilitate data compression and/or granularity-based searches. |
| US08112365B2 |
System and method for online employment recruiting and evaluation
A system and method for online employment recruiting and evaluation is provided. An online, web-based environment allows employers to create job descriptions for posting on an Internet-based job search service in communication with the web-based environment, and allows for online recruitment and review of hiring candidates using a multi-phase approach. Each employer/supervisor specified by the candidate is interviewed, and the interview is recorded and is stored as part of the candidate's virtual dossier. |
| US08112359B2 |
Pre-sale data broadcast system and method
In one embodiment, a method for promoting the sale of a substitute product at the point of sale (POS). Upon the presentation of an original product for purchase by a consumer at a POS terminal, various manufacturers may decide to offer a substitute product to the consumer, prior to completing the purchase of the original product. If the customer accepts the offer, the point of sale terminal completes the sale of the substitute product. |
| US08112356B2 |
System and method for providing automated secondary purchase opportunities to consumers
A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase. |
| US08112355B1 |
Method and system for buyer centric dispute resolution in electronic payment system
A method for facilitating resolution of a dispute between a buyer and a seller in an electronic payment system is provided. An electronic payment system is also described. An invoice is received from the seller and is electronically routed to the individuals in the buyer's organization. Indications that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice, comments for the seller regarding the invoice and comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization are received from a set of two or more individuals in the buyer's organization. An indication that the invoice is disputed, corrections to the invoice and comments for the seller are forwarded to the seller without forwarding the comments for other individuals in the buyer's organization. A response to the buyer's indication that the invoice is disputed is received from the seller. The response includes an acceptance of changes suggested by the buyer or an indication that the seller disputes the changes suggested by the buyer. Payment is withheld for the invoice until an indication from the buyer has been received that the buyer has determined that the invoice has been paid. The indication, corrections and comments to the seller may be forwarded to the seller in an electronic mail message. |
| US08112354B2 |
Method and system for virtual consolidation of biller direct web sites
The present invention provides a method and a system for consolidating bill payment-related information. A consolidation toolbar is installed inside the browser of a user's computer. The consolidation toolbar enables the user to interact with a virtual consolidation system for facilitating online bill payment-related activities. Lists of all the billers that are of interest to the user are presented through the consolidation toolbar. On selecting a biller, the user is presented with the login page on the biller's web site. The virtual consolidation system assists the user in providing the required information on various web pages on the selected biller's web site, to perform various payment-related activities. |
| US08112353B2 |
Payment service to efficiently enable electronic payment
A method to forward a browser client is disclosed. The method comprises storing information at a payment service server. The information includes a return network address corresponding to a interface hosted by a merchant server. Next, the method performs the step of comparing the return network address that is included in the information to a reference return network address corresponding to the interface hosted by the merchant server and identifying whether the return network address matches the reference return network address. Finally, the method comprises forwarding the browser client to the interface hosted by the merchant server responsive to the identifying the match. |
| US08112351B2 |
Aggregated trading system
A trading system is described herein for hosting a collection of one or more electronic exchanges. The collection of electronic exchanges may be made up of separately designated exchanges under one or more authorizing and regulating bodies. The trading system receives from traders bids to purchase and offers to sell a tradeable object listed at one of the electronic exchanges. Then, the trading system directs the bids and offers to the appropriate exchange where the bids and offers may be automatically matched in the corresponding market. The trading system may also be used to take actions in one or more markets that are internal and external to the trading system on behalf of a trader using preprogrammed trading instructions. |
| US08112345B2 |
Lifetime income
The present invention provides an investment option known as a lifetime income share. Lifetime income shares mitigate survival risk, the risk that an individual will outlive his or her assets. More specifically, the purchase of a plurality of lifetime income shares guarantees an individual a predetermined, periodic income payment for the life of the purchaser. The guaranteed stream of monthly income commences at a specified age. Furthermore, the guaranteed stream is utilized to supplement an existing income level or provide income in the event that the individual outlives his or her accumulated liquid assets. |
| US08112344B2 |
Participation systems and methods
Techniques, including computer-implemented methods, systems, and apparatus, for establishing a contractual relationship between two parties based on a segregated contract participation unit. The techniques include offering to a set of potential investors, on an electronic exchange, a segregated contract participation unit to purchase an economic participatory interest associated with a specific aspect of an issuer operation, and upon purchase of the segregated contract participation unit by a specific investor of the set of potential investors, establishing a contractual relationship between the issuer and the specific investor that binds the issuer to execute a set of obligations according to terms specified in the segregated contract participation unit. |
| US08112342B2 |
Adjustable derivative securities and method for adjusting the value of same due to a corporate event
The present invention relates to an adjustable equity derivative and method for allocating distributions amongst different adjustable derivative components of a security upon a corporate event effecting the underlying equity in a manner that factor in the time value of money. The present invention uses the concepts of present and future values with respect to valuing equity derivatives in order to more fairly and accurately represent the interests of the various holders of such adjustable components upon the occurrence of a corporate event affecting the value of the adjustable equity derivatives. |
| US08112339B2 |
Optically imaging pen configured for calculating accurate nib positions
An optically imaging pen for interacting with a printed substrate. The pen includes: a nib for interacting with the printed substrate; an image sensor for imaging an area of the printed substrate to provide image data; a processor configured for: (i) identifying target elements in the image data and inferring a perspective transform due to a tilt of the pen; (ii) acquiring and decoding coded data contained in the image data; (iii) calculating a nib position using a tag location, the perspective transform and a known geometry of pen optics; and (iv) generating digital ink based on the nib position. |
| US08112338B1 |
Data processing systems and method for creating efficient floater classes
A method for creating investment securities structured from interest-rate derivative and mortgage pool components is described. The method includes analyzing the risk elements of the derivative and mortgage pool components, structuring one or more classes of securities, at least one of which is backed by these components in combination, and issuing the structured securities. A computer program product and data processing system for practicing the method are also described. A novel investment security is disclosed which incorporates cash flows from mortgage pool components and cash flows coming from derivative components. Finally, a method of adding value to mortgage-backed securities is described. |
| US08112336B2 |
Method and system for converting an annuity fund to a life insurance policy
A method and system for converting an annuity fund to a life insurance policy at a predetermined conversion date comprising the following steps: establishing an annuity fund of a predetermined value and purchasing a fixed or variable annuity for the annuity fund, establishing an irrevocable life insurance conversion plan including selecting the predetermined conversion date, selecting a predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date and purchasing a guaranteed insurability option to guarantee the availability of the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing investment income within the annuity fund on a tax deferred basis until the predetermined conversion date, converting the annuity fund to the life insurance policy with the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing income within the life insurance policy until the death of the insured under the life insurance policy and disbursing the death benefit consisting of mortality insurance and accrued cash values to the beneficiary at the death of the insured under the life insurance policy. |
| US08112335B2 |
Systems and methods for processing pricing data
Processing pricing data can be provided by receiving first data associating a first price source, a first market condition, and an instrument; receiving second data from at least one of a plurality of price sources, the second data comprising a first price quote for the instrument; determining that the at least one of the plurality of price sources matches the first price source; and generating a second price quote for the instrument based on the second data. Time data may be used for synchronizing the first data and the second data. The first price source may be changed to a second price source and/or the first market condition may be changed to a second market condition; and a third price quote generated for the instrument based on the associated second price source. Cached data may be used for processing the pricing data. |
| US08112333B2 |
System and method for processing payroll related insurance premiums
A computer process for determining an insurance premium comprises: validating username/passwords; receiving payroll data asynchronously or scheduled in real time; extracting payroll data required for premium determination; detecting the presence or absence of fraud related to the payroll data; applying state jurisdictional inclusion and exclusion rules applicable to workers' compensation premiums; transferring premium to a billing system for debiting the customer account. The elements to the system comprise a payroll system configured with an accounting/bookkeeping software where regular payroll data resides; a utility that permits reading payroll accounts residing in the accounting/bookkeeping software; an Internet connection having a browser; a filter to allow extraction of payroll data exclusive of other payroll deductions; a rules engine customized to a particular remote payroll system that includes a mechanism to separate different occupations and a billing system. |
| US08112331B2 |
System and method for providing liquidity
A computer-implemented method of providing liquidity to an investment fund utilizing a liquidity vehicle, including determining that the investment fund has a net share outflow, prompting the investment fund having a net share outflow to offer shares to the liquidity vehicle, purchasing an offered share, holding the purchased share in the liquidity vehicle for a period of time, and redeeming the purchased share from the investment fund in response to a net inflow of shares of the investment fund. |
| US08112326B2 |
Inventory management tracking control system
An inventory management tracking control system includes a first event processor operative to receive a video data signal from at least one video capturing device, the video data signal including an archive attribute signal, relating an item being tracked; reader circuitry operative to generate an event attribute signal in response to information provided by a radio frequency identification tag; and a second event processor operative to adjust the image characteristics of the video data signal in response to the event attribute, the second event processor further operative to adjust the event attribute subsequent to the time the event attribute is received. An inventory management control method includes receiving video image data from at least one video capturing device; receiving an archive attribute corresponding to the received video image data; receiving an event attribute corresponding to an occurrence of an event of interest; and adjusting the characteristics of the video image data in response to an event attribute. |
| US08112321B1 |
Method, medium, and system for providing leads to an agent in exchange for credits
A system, method, and computer readable medium for authorization of independent agents for processing calls and distribution of calls to authorized agents are provided. An independent agent may purchase or otherwise acquire credits for leads related to commerce transactions. The credits may be maintained by a call center and accessed by a device responsible for routing calls to agents. Calls or other transactions leads may then be directed to the independent agent, and the independent agents credits may be deducted accordingly. |
| US08112309B1 |
Merchant and customer interaction system using short message service for customer rewards
A system and a method are disclosed for providing rewards to consumers using short message service (SMS). The system receives a text message from a consumer containing a reward keyword and a reward code and determines whether the message is a qualifying message. After receiving a certain number of qualifying messages, the system sends a reward message to the consumer enabling the consumer to receive a reward. Rewards can be based on customer referrals or merchant loyalty. |
| US08112308B1 |
Targeting using generated bundles of content sources
Selections of content sources are received. Content source bundles are generated from the selected content sources, each content source bundle defined by one or more selected content sources assigned to that content source bundle, and each content source bundle having associated data indicative of users interested in content provided by the selected content sources of that content source bundle. The content source bundles are presented for use in advertising campaigns in which advertisements can be published on selected content sources of a content source bundle, and the performance of each content source bundle used in advertisement campaigns are measured. |
| US08112306B2 |
System and method for facilitating triggers and workflows in workforce optimization
The systems and methods described herein provide a notification engine that facilitates integration of solutions for performing workforce management, quality monitoring, e-learning, performance management, and analytics functionality. The notification engine facilitates combining quality monitoring/call recording with performance management and e-learning functionality as a unified integrated solution. The combination can be delivered through a single platform and enables users to gain more insight and make smarter decisions faster about sales, service, and overall operations. This takes customer center tools beyond the traditional “suite” approach to a true single workforce optimization platform. |
| US08112299B2 |
Mobile terminal capable of managing schedule and method of controlling the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal capable of managing schedule and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. In order to register a new scheduled event to the mobile terminal, a schedule place corresponding to the new scheduled event may be displayed on a schedule map. Thereafter, a route between the schedule place and other routes may be established in consideration of a current location of the mobile terminal and traffic information. The clarity, color and/or shape of objects displayed on the schedule map may be changed in consideration of the current location of the mobile terminal or the traffic information. Therefore, a user may easily obtain various schedule information, current location information and traffic condition information from the schedule map. |
| US08112295B1 |
Personalized hospitality management system
The invention is a method and system for customizing a plurality of hospitality site amenities based on a stored user profile. Certain check-in procedures are reduced or eliminated. Hospitality sites are able to provide a guest with an abundance of personalized services without a corresponding increase in staff size. Guests experience customized hotel amenities, environments, and media renderings. |
| US08112293B2 |
Medical monitoring system
A medical monitoring system that facilitates end-users in obtaining medical information concerning their health or wellness is disclosed. In one embodiment, an end-user is provided with a medical monitoring appliance. In another embodiment, an end-user acquires an appropriate medical monitoring appliance. The end-user can utilize the medical monitoring appliance to capture health data concerning the end-user. The health data can be electronically stored at a central repository and be available for electronic access by medical personnel and/or the end-user. The invention also facilitates remote evaluation of an end-user's health data by another person, such as a medical specialist. |
| US08112292B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing a therapy
A method and apparatus to perform a procedure that can include a processor assisted surgical procedure. During the procedure patient space and image space can be registered to allow for tracking of various tracking sensors. An instrument can be placed relative to patient space based upon a plan. |
| US08112288B1 |
Systems and methods for determining options for reducing spend and/or trend for a prescription drug plan
Systems and methods for determining options for reducing spend and/or trend for a prescription drug plan are provided. Based on an analysis of spend and/or trend for the prescription drug plan, a prescription drug spend and/or trend application may determine that an option is available to reduce spend and/or trend. For example, an option may be provided that addresses a primary component of spend and/or trend as determined by the spend and trend application. In another example, an option may be provided that addresses a deviation by the prescription drug plan from a selected performance metric. In yet another example, an option may be provided that addresses a status change for a drug in a marketplace. The spend and/or trend application may optionally project an impact of an option on the prescription drug plan (e.g., financial impact, member impact) using a related model. |
| US08112286B2 |
Stereo encoding device, and stereo signal predicting method
A prediction performance between individual channels of a stereo signal is improved to improve a sound quality of a decoded signal. A first low pass filter LPF interrupts a high-range component of a first channel signal S1, and outputs a first low-range component S1′. A second low pass filter LPF interrupts a high-range component of a second channel signal S2, and outputs a second low-range component S2′. A predictor predicts the S2′ from the S1′, and outputs a prediction parameter composed of a delay time difference t and an amplitude ratio g. first channel encoder encodes the S1. A prediction parameter encoder encodes the prediction parameter. The encoded parameters of the encoded parameter of the S1 and the prediction parameter are then outputted. |
| US08112285B2 |
Method and system for improving real-time data communications
A system and method for improving real-time data communications by accounting for sampling rate mismatches between a transmitter and a receiver. Based on an analysis of the average number of packets received at a receiver over a period of time, a buffer monitor cooperating with the receiver can trigger an adjustment to the playback sampling rate to account for mismatches in the sampling rates of the transmitter and receiver. The buffer monitor may adjust the playback sampling rate more dramatically if the average is dangerously high or low, adjust the playback sampling rate less dramatically if the average is near satisfactory conditions, and not adjust the playback sampling rate if the average falls is satisfactory. |
| US08112284B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving high frequency reconstruction of audio and speech signals
The present invention proposes a new method and a new apparatus for enhancement of audio source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR). It utilizes a detection mechanism on the encoder side to assess what parts of the spectrum will not be correctly reproduced by the HFR method in the decoder. Information on this is efficiently coded and sent to the decoder, where it is combined with the output of the HFR unit. |
| US08112280B2 |
Systems and methods of performing speech recognition with barge-in for use in a bluetooth system
Embodiments of the present invention improve methods of performing speech recognition with barge-in. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising starting a synthesis of recorded speech, receiving a user speech input signal providing information regarding a user choice, detecting an initial portion of the user speech input signal, selectively altering the synthesis of recorded speech, and recognizing the user choice. |
| US08112277B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for clustering phonemic models
A node initializing unit generates a root node including inputted phonemic models. A candidate generating unit generates candidates of a pair of child sets by partitioning a set of phonemic models included in a node having no child node into two. A candidate deleting unit deletes candidates each including only phonemic models attached with determination information indicating that at least one of the child sets has a small amount of speech data for training. A similarity calculating unit calculates a sum of similarities among the phonemic models included in the child sets. A candidate selecting unit selects one of the candidates having a largest sum. A node generating unit generates two nodes including the two child sets included in the selected candidate, respectively. A clustering unit clusters the phonemic models in units of phonemic model sets each included in a node. |
| US08112271B2 |
Audio encoding device and audio encoding method
Provided is an audio encoding device capable of improving performance of an adaptive codebook and improving quality of a decoded audio. In this audio encoding device, an adaptive codebook cuts out a vector specified by a comparator from adaptive code vectors stored in an internal buffer and outputs it to a filter and a switch. The filter performs a predetermined filtering process on the adaptive sound source signal and outputs the obtained adaptive code vector to the switch. According to an instruction from the comparator, the switch outputs the adaptive code vector directly output from the adaptive codebook to a adjuster when the adaptive codebook is searched and outputs the adaptive code vector output from the filter after being subjected to the filtering process to the gain adjuster when a fixed sound source is searched after the adaptive sound source search. |
| US08112270B2 |
Digital recording and playback system with voice recognition capability for concurrent text generation
A recording and playback system is provided. The system includes an audio capturing device configured to receive an analog input and an encoder coupled to the audio capturing device configured to generate a digital signal based on the analog input. The system further includes a recognition engine coupled to the audio capturing device and configured to generate text data based on the analog input, wherein the encoder and the recognition engine simultaneously generate the digital signal and the text data such that the digital signal and the text data can be provided in a synchronized manner. |
| US08112269B2 |
Determining utility of a question
A question search system provides a collection of questions having words for use in evaluating the utility of the questions based on a language model. The question search system calculates n-gram probabilities for words within the questions of the collection. The n-gram probability of a word for a sequence of n−1 words indicates the probability of that word being next after that sequence in the collection of questions. The n-gram probabilities for the words of the collection represent the language model of the collection. The question search system calculates a language model utility score for each question within a collection that indicates the likelihood that a question is repeatedly asked by users. The question search system derives the language model utility score for a question from the n-gram probabilities of the words within that question. |
| US08112267B2 |
System and a method for checking lock-step consistency between an in circuit emulation and a microcontroller
A system and a method for checking consistency of a lock-step process while debugging a microcontroller code. The virtual microcontroller and the microcontroller simultaneously and independently run a microcontroller code. The microcontroller includes a first memory and the virtual microcontroller residing in the ICE includes a second memory. A host computer copies a content of the first memory and a content of the second memory in the host computer memory when the execution of the code is halted. The host device compares the content of the first memory and the content of the second memory for consistency. In case of a disparity between the content of the first memory and the content of the second memory, a user traces the execution of the code in a trace buffer residing in the ICE and debugs the faulty code accordingly. |
| US08112264B1 |
Simulating circuits using network tearing
A circuit is simulated by using system or network tearing to obtain a real solution. The circuit may be an entire integrated circuit, portion of an integrated circuit, or a circuit block. A circuit simulation technique of the invention generates a system graph, finds a tree, and partitions the tree into two or more subtrees. The technique identifies global links and local links in the graph. Each subtree may be solved individually using distributed, parallel computing. Using the results for the subtrees, the technique obtains a real solution, branch voltages and currents, for the circuit. |
| US08112263B2 |
Method for logic checking to check operation of circuit to be connected to bus
To check operation of a circuit to be checked connected to a bus to which at least one master circuit and at least one slave circuit are connected, a model is connected to a bus in place of a master circuit or a slave circuit and cause given signals to be outputted at given timing for checking the operation of the circuit to be checked. Especially, by causing various data transfer to occur at random timing by a plurality of models, it is easy to cause severer than actual conditions to take place easily, enabling to enhance efficiency of checking. For example, when checking operation of a bus arbiter, a plurality of master models are connected in place of a plurality of master circuits to cause a request of bus accessibility to be outputted from each master model at random timing to check arbitration operation of a bus arbiter. |
| US08112254B1 |
Transferring surface attributes across geometric models
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a correspondence generator that determines a distance-based mapping between a set of points in a source object and a point in a target object and stores the distance-based mapping in a surface map. The system also includes an attribute transfer module that transfers surface attributes that determine an appearance or deformation of the set of points in the source object to the point in the target object using the surface map. The system also includes an attribute editor that receives a selection of a region of the target object and applies an interpolation algorithm that determines new values for surface attributes in the selected region from neighboring points in the target object. |
| US08112252B2 |
Control system and methods of verifying operation of at least one wind turbine sensor
A method of verifying operation of at least one wind turbine sensor includes dynamically defining a neighborhood of neighbor wind turbines for a first wind turbine, each neighbor wind turbine including at least one sensor. The method also includes receiving data from at least one neighbor wind turbine sensor and determining a status of at least one sensor of the first wind turbine using the data received from the neighbor wind turbine sensor. |
| US08112248B2 |
Forensic integrated search technology with instrument weight factor determination
A system and method to search spectral databases and to identify unknown materials from multiple spectroscopic data in the databases. The methodology may be substantially automated and is configurable to determine weights to be accorded to spectroscopic data from different spectroscopic data generating instruments for improved identification of unknown materials. Library spectra from known materials are divided into training and validation sets. Initial, instrument-specific weighting factors are determined using a weight grid or weight scale. The training and validation spectra are weighted with the weighting factors and indicator probabilities for various sets of “coarse” weighting factors are determined through an iterative process. The finally-selected set of coarse weighting factors is further “fine tuned” using a weight grid with finer values of weights. The instrument-specific finer weight values may be applied to test data sets (or spectra) of an unknown material as well as to the library spectra from corresponding spectroscopic instruments. Instrument-specific weights for each class of samples may also be computed for additional customization and accuracy. |
| US08112247B2 |
Resource adaptive spectrum estimation of streaming data
Introduced herein is a “resource adaptive” algorithm for spectrum and periodicity estimation on a continuous stream of data. The formulation is based on the derivation of a closed-form incremental computation of the spectrum, augmented by a load-shedding scheme that can adapt to available CPU resources to provide a resource efficient solution for real time spectrum estimation. |
| US08112245B2 |
First-point distance parameter system and method for automatic grid generation
A system and method for automatically generating a computation mesh for use with an analytical tool, the computation mesh having a plurality of ξ-grid lines and η-grid lines intersecting at mesh points positioned with respect to an inner boundary and an outer boundary. The system and method includes receiving information corresponding to a shape to be analyzed, ξ-grid line mesh parameter value corresponding to a desired number of ξ-grid lines for the computation mesh, and an η-grid line mesh parameter value corresponding to a desired number of η-grid lines for the computation mesh, and generating the computation mesh from one or more mesh equations without the need for receiving additional information from a user. In one example, the solving of the one or more mesh equations includes an outer boundary distance parameter that is a function of an inner boundary distance parameter and one of a natural log of the η-grid line mesh parameter value and a square root of the η-grid line mesh parameter value. |
| US08112243B2 |
Forward voltage short-pulse technique for measuring high power laser array junction temperture
The present invention relates to a method of measuring the temperature of the P-N junction within the light-emitting region of a quasi-continuous-wave or pulsed semiconductor laser diode device. A series of relatively short and low current monitor pulses are applied to the laser diode in the period between the main drive current pulses necessary to cause the semiconductor to lase. At the sufficiently low current level of the monitor pulses, the laser diode device does not lase and behaves similar to an electronic diode. The voltage across the laser diode resulting from each of these low current monitor pulses is measured with a high degree of precision. The junction temperature is then determined from the measured junction voltage using their known linear relationship. |
| US08112241B2 |
Methods and systems for generating an inspection process for a wafer
Methods and systems for generating an inspection process for a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method includes separately determining a value of a local attribute for different locations within a design for a wafer based on a defect that can cause at least one type of fault mechanism at the different locations. The method also includes determining a sensitivity with which defects will be reported for different locations on the wafer corresponding to the different locations within the design based on the value of the local attribute. In addition, the method includes generating an inspection process for the wafer based on the determined sensitivity. Groups may be generated based on the value of the local attribute thereby assigning pixels that will have at least similar noise statistics to the same group, which can be important for defect detection algorithms. Better segmentation may lead to better noise statistics estimation. |
| US08112238B1 |
Method of alignment for radio frequency measurement instrument and measurement instrument including same
A method is provided for aligning a measurement instrument that includes a tunable filter. The method includes: (i) applying an output signal of an internal noise source of the measurement instrument to the input of the tunable filter, (ii) applying a control signal to the tunable filter to tune the tunable filter to a selected alignment frequency, (iii) measuring a value for a gain alignment parameter of the tunable filter while the output signal of the internal noise source is applied to the input of the tunable filter and the control signal is applied to the tunable filter, (iv) storing the measured gain alignment parameter value in an alignment table in the memory device, and (v) repeating steps (ii) through (iv) for a plurality of selected alignment frequencies in an operating frequency range of the tunable filter. |
| US08112237B2 |
System and method for correcting signal polarities and detection thresholds in a rail vehicle inspection system
A method for identifying a location of a wheel of a rail vehicle includes producing a first signal representative of a potential difference between leads electrically coupled with a wheel gate transducer and modifying the first signal that is received over a first channel to produce a second signal over a second channel, where the second signal differs from the first signal. The method further includes monitoring the first and second signals over the first and second channels to identify the location of the wheel relative to the wheel gate transducer. |
| US08112233B2 |
Selective resonance of chemical structures
Chemical compositions may be selectively or preferentially excited by the application of scores comprising a series of at least four differing energy inputs. The differing energy inputs of the specified series are selected to resonate each of a group of resonant structures among a group of proximate atoms, including at least one bond. |
| US08112232B2 |
System and method for autoverifying laboratory test results
A method of autoverifying clinical test results comprises displaying an autoverification process as a flowchart on a graphical user interface. The autoverification process is defined by a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes. The autoverification process is configured to evaluate a result and determine if the test result meets a predetermined criteria. The method further comprises receiving the test result and automatically performing the autoverification process on the test result. A system for creating and implementing the autoverification processes comprises a graphical user interface configured to display the autoverification process as a flowchart. The system includes an input configured to receive the clinical test result from a laboratory analyzer. The system also includes a processor configured to analyze the clinical test result according to the defined autoverification process. |
| US08112229B2 |
Method for determining the order of execution of assays of a sample in a laboratory automation system
A method for arranging assays in an order for execution in a system that employs a plurality of clinical analyzers, typically automated clinical analyzers. The method comprises the steps of (a) prioritizing the order of execution of a number of individual assays in a set of assays for a given sample in a sample container, the priority of an individual assay in the set of assays for the given sample being specified by the sensitivity of the individual assay, wherein there is at least one sample-to-sample carryover contribution from at least one other sample, an assay of the at least one other sample preceding the individual assay of the given sample; (b) comparing the sum of the sample-to-sample carryover contribution(s) from the at least one other sample for at least one assay of the at least one other sample that precedes the individual assay of the given sample to the sensitivity threshold of the individual assay of the given sample; and (c) using this comparison to determine whether to establish an order for the execution of assays for the given sample that includes the individual assay of the given sample or dispense at least a portion of the given sample into at least one additional container in order to carry out the assay. |
| US08112226B2 |
Telephone or other portable device with inertial sensor
At least one inertial sensor is configured to sense movement of a telephone (or other portable device such as a personal digital assistant, portable computer, portable game device, portable audio player, or portable video player). Information derived at least in part from data output by the inertial sensor is used as input to software executing on the telephone. |
| US08112224B2 |
Guidance system for an aircraft
The guidance system (1) comprises a first means (2) for guiding the aircraft while maintaining a spacing with another aircraft, a second means (3) for making the aircraft pass through a particular waypoint at a required passing time, and means (5) for selecting automatically one of said first and second means (2, 3). |
| US08112223B2 |
Method for measuring lateral movements in a driver assistance system
Method for determining a dynamic variable representative for a lateral movement of a located object in a driver assistance system for motor vehicles, which has two angle-resolving distance sensors situated laterally offset to one another for locating the object, using which a radial component of the relative velocity of the object along the particular line of sight is also measurable, wherein the dynamic variable is calculated on the basis of the radial components of the relative velocity measured by the two distance sensors. |
| US08112222B2 |
Lane determining device, method, and program
Devices, methods, and programs obtain vehicle position information indicating a current position of a vehicle, and based on the vehicle position information, obtain road information including positions and forms of lane markings around the current position of the vehicle. Based on the road information, the devices, systems, and methods determine whether a branch point exists on the road in a forward direction of the vehicle. If a branch point exists, the devices, methods, and programs obtain image information of an area before the branch point, and determine whether no lane marking is imaged or is partly imaged in the image information of the area before the branch point. If there is no lane marking or only a partial lane marking imaged in the area before the branch point, the devices, methods, and programs obtain image information of the branch point including a captured image of a lane marking, and determine a lane in which the vehicle is traveling after the branch point based on an imaging order of the lane marking, a form of the lane marking, a position of the lane marking in the image information of the branch point, and the road information. |
| US08112218B2 |
Method for controlling an engine
A method for reducing a temperature of an engine component is disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio provided to an engine is adjusted to reduce a temperature of an engine component. The approach may be useful for controlling temperature and emissions from a turbocharged engine. |
| US08112217B2 |
Exhaust brakes
An exhaust brake control system includes a braking torque estimation module that estimates a desired braking torque based on engine speed. A volume flow rate determination module determines a desired volume flow rate of an exhaust gas based on the desired braking torque. An adjustment module adjusts an actual volume flow rate to control actual braking torque based on the desired braking torque and a change in exhaust temperature. |
| US08112215B2 |
Cruise control and active fuel management (AFM) interaction
A method and controller for operating cruise control in a vehicle having an engine with active fuel management (AFM) is provided. Adaptive scaler values can be determined based on a cylinder deactivation signal and calibrated scaler values. Cruise control commands can be calculated based on the adaptive scaler values. A speed of the vehicle can be controlled based on the cruise control commands. |
| US08112208B2 |
Engine speed reduction preparatory to an engine restart
A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes stopping the vehicle and holding the vehicle stationary, reducing engine speed, increasing a rate of reduction of engine speed, if engine speed is less than a reference speed when a desired restart of the engine is indicated, and initiating an engine restart when engine speed is substantially zero. |
| US08112207B2 |
Method and apparatus to determine a preferred output torque for operating a hybrid transmission in a continuously variable mode
A hybrid transmission includes a torque machine and an energy storage device connected thereto. The hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and an output member and the torque machine in a continuously variable operating range state. A method for controlling the hybrid transmission includes determining a preferred output torque, determining a relationship between power from the energy storage device and an output torque of the transmission, determining power constraints from the energy storage device, determining motor torque constraints for the torque machine, determining linear torque constraints to the output torque based upon the motor torque constraints for the torque machine, determining quadratic output torque constraints based upon the power constraints from the energy storage device and the relationship between the power from the energy storage device and the output torque of the transmission device, and determining an output torque to the output member responsive to the preferred output torque and achievable based upon the linear output torque constraints and the quadratic output torque constraints. |
| US08112205B2 |
Device and method for controlling torque applied to wheels of a vehicle
A motor vehicle power train control device capable of furnishing set signals of torque applied to wheels of the motor vehicle. The control device includes a mechanism to generate a signal representing a limitation of variation in speed of a heat engine integrated in a power train capable of reducing variations that are disturbing with regard to acoustics of the power train, and includes a mechanism to determine an operating point of the power train in an optimal operating range according to the signal that represents limitation of speed. The mechanism for generating the signal that represents a limitation of variation in the speed of the heat engine integrated in the power train is furnished, at an input, by parameters that represent characteristics of the motor vehicle and by parameters that represent the driver's wishes. |
| US08112202B2 |
Automatic control of a large bale loading apparatus
A control system for managing rotation of a bale loading arm in a bale loader in which a pair of sensors combined with a purposefully designed sensor target enable loading arm position to be efficiently derived by a controller in order to direct the actuator movements based upon loading arm position necessary for automated operation of a bale loading cycle. Additional inputs to the controller enable initiation of a bale loading cycle to be automatically initiated. The controller may also determine when a complete bale wagon load is achieved and automatically direct loading arm motions necessary to configure the bale wagon for transport. |
| US08112200B2 |
Motion control unit for vehicle based on jerk information
In a motion control system for a vehicle including control means for controlling a yaw moment of the vehicle; first detection means for detecting a longitudinal velocity (V) of the vehicle; second detection means for detecting a lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle; and third detection means for detecting a yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) of the vehicle, the yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled by the control means so that a difference between the yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) detected by the third detection means and a value (Gy_dot/V) obtained by the lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle detected by the second detection means by the longitudinal velocity (V) detected by the first detection means becomes small. |
| US08112198B2 |
Loading and unloading stabilization in an active suspension system
An active suspension system includes a relative slow-responding force bias eliminator (such as a pneumatic actuator) and a relatively fast-responding actuator (such as an electromagnetic actuator) that together support a plant (such as a truck seat or vehicle cabin). The system also includes a load-unload detector (which may be a physical or virtual detector) to detect a loading or unloading of the plant. When such a loading or unloading is detected, the system causes the force bias eliminator to respond quickly (e.g., as quick as possible) while controlling the fast-responding actuator so as to preserve the available energy for operating the actuator (e.g., so as to keep the fast-responding actuator from consuming all of its available energy) prior to when the force bias eliminator can respond. |
| US08112195B2 |
Method of providing and utilizing information for vehicle travel
The present invention relates to a method of providing and utilizing information for vehicle travel, such as information about traffic flow on roads, and about parking lots. In an encoding method according to the present invention, at least one component including information for vehicle travel is generated. Information about a time point is included in the generated component. The information about the time point includes a selector, having a bit element indicating whether to use the present date and time and indicating the type of loaded information, and at least one of information elements indicating a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, depending on the value of the selector. |
| US08112194B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring regenerative operation in a hybrid powertrain system
A hybrid powertrain system includes an engine and a torque actuator coupled to a driveline to transfer tractive power to a wheel including a friction brake. A method includes monitoring an operator braking request and determining a request for regenerative braking torque. Operation of the torque actuator to react tractive power is inhibited when a fault is detected in the monitored request for regenerative braking torque and achieved regenerative braking torque. |
| US08112192B2 |
Method for managing electric power within a powertrain system
A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring output power of the energy storage device, modifying a preferred electric power limit when the output power of the energy storage device transgresses a trigger power limit, and determining the power constraint of the first power actuator based on the estimated output power of the energy storage device when the output power of the energy storage power transgresses the preferred power limit. |
| US08112186B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing flight planning
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for displaying flight plan data. First level flight plan data is displayed and user input is received selecting a selection of a portion of the first level flight plan data. In response to receiving the selection of the portion of the first level flight plan data, second level flight plan data is displayed, wherein the second level flight plan data displayed is used to derive the selected portion of the first level flight plan data selected by the user input. |
| US08112185B2 |
Remote engine start confirmation and vehicle monitoring and control system
A remote engine start confirmation and vehicle monitoring and control system includes a transmitter and a controller capable of receiving and processing transmitter signals, the controller comprising a monitoring circuit for detecting a first pulsed voltage pattern and a second pulsed voltage pattern across the battery during an engine start procedure, a signaling circuit for signaling the disengagement of the starter from the engine after a detection of the termination of the first pulsed voltage pattern and the start of the second pulsed voltage pattern, and an initiation circuit for initiating the monitoring of a vehicle condition, such as overheating or low fuel, after the detection. A method for controlling the vehicle operation includes detecting an occurrence of a vehicle condition and performing an operation based on the detection, such as terminating ignition voltage or fuel supply or notifying the operator of the vehicle condition via the transmitter. |
| US08112184B2 |
Auxiliary power unit with dual use of speed signals
An auxiliary power unit has a speed sensor for sensing a speed of operation of the auxiliary power unit. The speed sensor sends a signal to an electronic control box. The electronic control box is operable to control the auxiliary power unit. A branch line is for communicating the speed signal to a health monitoring system. The branch passes through an electronic component that will isolate the speed signal as it passes beyond the component and to the downstream use, such that corruption at a downstream use will not pass back upstream to corrupt the signals used in the electronic control box. |
| US08112178B2 |
Robotic platform for autonomous automotive vehicle development
A robotic platform for autonomous automotive vehicle development. The platform includes a frame having a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the frame. A motor mechanism is associated with at least one of the wheels and the motor mechanism is responsive to drive signals to rotatably drive its associated wheel. At least one sensor is mounted to the vehicle which provides an output signal representative of a parameter relevant to the position of the robotic platform. A programmable control circuit is programmed to generate drive signals in response to the sensor output(s) to simulate the operation of an automotive vehicle for vehicle development. |
| US08112176B2 |
System for self-organizing mobile robotic collectives
A system of self-organizing mobile robotic agents (MRAs) in a multi-robotic system (MRS) is disclosed. The MRAs use simulations to organize the behaviors of groups of robots in the MRS. The MRAs use software agents to model the MRS and the environment. By developing simulations of environmental change, the system provides methods for the MRS to interact with its environment to produce collective epigenetic behaviors. |
| US08112175B2 |
Methods and apparatus for medicament tracking
Methods and apparatus for medicament tracking are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, medicaments are initially stored within secure medicament containers. One or more containers comprise a radio frequency identification module or another electromagnetic transmitter adapted to generate tracking signals. Optionally, the tracking signals may be transmitted according to one or more anti-collision protocols in order to reduce and/or prevent interference with other transmitted signals. Electromagnetic readers situated at one or more locations verify when the medicament containers are proximate to those readers. In some embodiments, once the medicament containers have successfully been tracked to a target location, inventory and tracking data may be updated within one or more external devices. |
| US08112174B2 |
Processor, method and computer program product for fast selective invalidation of translation lookaside buffer
A processor including a microarchitecture adapted for invalidating mapping of at least one logical address to at least one absolute address, includes: at least one translation lookaside buffer (TLB) and a plurality of copies thereof; logic for independent indexing of each copy of the TLB; a plurality of comparators, each comparator associated with a respective output of each TLB set output for each TLB port, wherein each of the comparators is adapted for identifying mappings for invalidation; and logic for invalidating each identified mapping. A method and a computer program product are provided. |
| US08112173B2 |
Position ensuring system for oblique machining in five-axis machine tool
A position ensuring system includes an A-axis calibration system which measures a displacement angle, which is an error between a target value and a measured value of the pivot angle of the spindle head about the A-axis, and corrects the pivot angle about the A-axis in such a manner that the displacement angle as measured with the corrected pivot angle as a target value fall within a tolerable range. A corrected data storage device stores the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis. An A-axis control system reads out the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis, the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis to pivot the spindle head when executing oblique machining of the inclined hole. |
| US08112170B2 |
Method and system for machining process control
A method and system for controlling machining processes are provided. The system includes a computer system communicatively coupled to a database. The computer system is configured to receive data relating to manufactured part processes, identify at least one machining process used to manufacture a part and a parameter of the at least one machining process, receive survey data relating to the manufacturing process parameters used during the at least one machining process, and receive identification data for the manufactured part. The computer is further configured to receive data relating to a design of experiment (DOE), determine an low cycle fatigue (LCF) life distribution, identify process parameters that affect the LCF, and determine an allowable range for each identified process parameters for safe operation. The computer system is further configured to output the process window embodied in a specification associated with at least one of the part and the process. |
| US08112168B2 |
Process and method for a decoupled multi-parameter run-to-run controller
A manufacturing process including a controller method to generate a tool setting which includes a tool offset and a device offset. The controller method uses a device parameter measurement to update the tool offset and device offset. A tool weight and a device weight is assigned so that only one of the tool offset and device offset is significantly changed during the update. The process may be applied to semiconductor device manufacturing and particularly to integrated circuit fabrication. |
| US08112167B2 |
Process controller for semiconductor manufacturing, utilizing dangerous pattern identification and process capability determination
A process control method comprises adjusting a process condition in consideration of a performance variation among a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses, the performance variation affecting a finished shape of a pattern used to manufacture a semiconductor device, running a simulation of the finished shape under the adjusted process condition, extracting a dangerous point of the pattern affecting satisfaction from the result of the simulation, comparing a first process capability serving as a judgment standard to find whether a production schedule of the device is achieved with a second capability serving to form a dangerous pattern containing the dangerous point, and improving the second process when the second process capability is lower than the first process capability. |
| US08112166B2 |
Personalized sound system hearing profile selection process
A method of generating a personalized sound system hearing profile for a user. The method begins by selecting an initial profile, based on selected factors of user input. In an embodiment, the initial profile is selected based on demographic factors. Then the system identifies one or more alternate profiles, each having a selected relationship with the initial profile. The relationship between alternate profiles and the initial profile can be based on gain as a function of frequency, one alternate profile having a higher sensitivity at given frequencies and the other a lower sensitivity. The next step links at least one audio sample with the initial and alternate profiles and then plays the selected samples for the user. The system then receives identification of the preferred sample from the user; and selects a final profile based on the user's preference. An embodiment offers multiple sound samples in different modes, resulting in the selection of multiple final profiles for the different modes. Finally, the system may apply the final profile to the sound system. |
| US08112165B2 |
Method for evaluating, an automation system and a controller
The invention relates to a method for evaluating an application for controlling a process within an automation system. The application is stored within a controller, and at least two versions of it are present within the controller. The method comprises the steps of: inputting to the different versions of the application an input signal obtained from the process; executing, in the controller, tasks based on this input signal for the different versions; generating a report comprising comparisons of the outputs from the different versions of the application; and evaluating, based on the generated report, the version(s) not used for controlling the process. An improved way of revising an automation system is thereby achieved. The invention also relates to such controller and an automation system. |
| US08112157B2 |
Magnetic material-containing microfabricated devices for wireless data and power transfer
This disclosure relates to the design and fabrication of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) for applications in such varied fields as the biomedical, micro-fluidics and chemical analysis fields for wireless data and power transfer. |
| US08112156B2 |
Method and device for improving blood flow by a series of electrically-induced muscular contractions
A treatment method and device for promoting a localized increase in the flow of blood through a blood vessel in an area of the body, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) at least a first electrode operatively contacting a first portion of body tissue; (ii) at least a second electrode operatively contacting a second portion of body tissue; and (iii) a signal generator, operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, for providing a plurality of electrical impulses to the electrodes; (b) applying the electrical impulses so as to subject the muscular tissue to at least one voltage differential, thereby inducing repeated, contracting, directional movement of muscular tissue associated within the blood vessel, so as to produce a localized increase in the flow of blood through the blood vessel. |
| US08112155B2 |
Neuromuscular stimulation
An apparatus for muscle activation includes least one electrode adapted to deliver a neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) signal to a body portion. A controller provides a NMES signal comprising a sequence of stimulation signals to the electrode. A mechanical motion element coupled to the body portion and a mirror body portion is operatively coupled to the controller. The controller controls the NMES signal in conjunction with the mechanical motion element. |
| US08112152B2 |
Feedthrough apparatus with noble metal-coated leads
Methods and apparatuses are provided for an electrical device that employs a feedthrough including a hermetic seal that seals an interior region of the electrical device. The electrical device includes an electrical contact disposed within the interior region of the electrical device, and a wire terminal that includes an encircled portion that is encircled by the feedthrough, and a first end that electrically connects with said electrical contact. When the electrical device is constructed, the first end of the wire terminal is coated with a conductive metal that is more resistant to oxidation than the wire terminal. The first end of the wire terminal is secured to the electrical contact using a mechanical device such as a crimping connector or a spring connector. |
| US08112151B1 |
Housecall device for patients with implanted devices
An exemplary device includes a processor, one or more communication interfaces, memory and one or more modules stored in the memory that comprise processor executable instructions to receive data from an implantable device via at least one of the one or more communication interfaces, to interrogate the data for one or more particular types of data, to process one or more particular types of data and to transmit information via at least one of the one or more communication interfaces. Various other exemplary devices, methods, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08112146B2 |
Three-dimensional imaging using a luminescent surface and a differentially attenuating medium
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US08112140B2 |
Device for detecting and transmitting electrical pulses
A device for detecting and transmitting electrical pulses from the body surface of a patient to device processing the electrical pulses. The device for detecting includes at least two electrical leads of different lengths, at least one electrical insulating material surrounding the at least two electrical leads, a connecting port for connection to the device for processing the electrical pulses at one end of the at least two electrical leads and a recess in the electrical insulating material of the at least two electrical leads, so that an electric contact can be established with the skin surface of the patient. The two leads of different lengths have a ratio of the electrical resistance to the length of the leads and/or the ratio of the impedance to the length of the leads that is/are greater in the shorter lead than in the longer lead. With the construction artifacts caused by external sources of interference are easily filtered out and it can be manufactured at a low cost, so as to be employed for disposable use. |
| US08112137B2 |
Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light, and a memory storing values of skin temperature at which a motion signal algorithm can be accurately utilized. |
| US08112134B2 |
Superconducting current limiter device of the resistive type having a holding element
The superconducting current-limiting device contains at least one coil (61), the conductive track of which is formed from at least one band-shaped superconductor (17), where a holding element (2, 41, 10, 51, 62) is located between adjacent coil windings. The holding element (2, 41, 51, 62) is constructed wider than the superconductor (17) in the axial direction of the coil (61). The holding element (2, 41, 51, 62) further includes a flat strip (11) and an undulating strip (12, 42, 52). The flat strip (11) extends essentially parallel to the band-shaped superconductor (17) at an essentially constant distance (22) therefrom. The undulating strip (12, 42, 52) extends essentially parallel to the flat strip (11), and in the longitudinal direction periodically has regions (15, 43, 53) distant from and regions (13) close to the flat strip (11). The regions (13) of the undulating strip (12, 42, 52) near to the flat strip have a mechanical connection (21) to the flat strip (11). The regions (15, 43, 53) of the undulating strip far from the flat strip have recesses (16) of such a kind that an at least approximately close-fitting mounting of the band-shaped superconductor (17) relative to the flat strip (11) is facilitated. |
| US08112133B2 |
Keypad and slide type mobile terminal having the same
A keypad and a slide type mobile terminal having the same are provided. The slide type mobile terminal includes a first main body; a keypad having an upper surface part and a lower surface part, and a second main body coupled to the first plate positioned at one end of the upper surface part of the keypad and slidably connected to the first main body. The upper surface part has a plurality of parallel first plates that form an upper surface of the keypad, and the first plates positioned at each end of the upper surface part each have a downward facing first latch disposed at one side thereof and the remaining first plates each have a downward facing first latch disposed at two sides thereof. The lower surface part has a plurality of parallel second plates that form a lower surface of the keypad, and each second plate has an upward facing second latch disposed at two sides thereof. One second latch of each second plate contacts an adjacent first latch. |
| US08112131B2 |
Radiative focal area antenna transmission coupling arrangement
The present invention comprises a docking system for connecting a portable communication device to a further signal transmission line. The docking system may be arranged within a workstation such as a desk or a tray. The system may also envelope a room in a building or be located in a vehicle, to control and restrict the radiative emission from the communication device and to direct such radiation to a further remote antenna and or signal distribution system connected to the transmission line. |
| US08112129B2 |
Seal structure, electronic apparatus, and sealing method
A seal structure or a sealing method that seals the housing (case) and allows the signal line to pass through a seal portion of the housing is provided. A recessed level difference is formed on at least one of junction faces of first and second housing units (case units) joined together, and, at a portion including the recessed level difference, a first sealing material (double-faced adhesive sheet), the signal line (flexible cable) or circuit unit, and a second sealing material are held between the first housing unit and the second housing unit. The adhesiveness and flexibility of the first sealing material and the elasticity of the second sealing material allow the signal line or circuit unit to pass through the seal portion while maintaining airtightness. |
| US08112128B2 |
Discreetly positionable camera housing
A camera housing positionably coupled to an electronic appliance is disclosed. Preferably, the camera housing is positionable in two discrete positions such that the camera can be positioned to face towards or away from the user. The appliance includes a recess sized to receive the camera housing. A cellular telephone includes a camera housing which is positionable in two discrete positions. In the first position, the camera faces the user. In the second position, the camera faces away from the user. The camera housing is coupled to the cellular telephone by a hinge mechanism that latches the camera into one of the two positions. |
| US08112125B2 |
Voice activated dialing for wireless headsets
Provided are methods and systems for hands free communication with a wearable telecommunication device configured to recognize a command associated with the audio message and executing the command by communicating wirelessly with at least one communication device or a mobile telecommunication system. The wearable wireless telecommunications headset includes a casing containing a speaker for receiving an audio message, a microphone for sending an audio message, transceiver and a processor programmed for voice recognition. Methods are provided for direct communication with a telecommunication system and also communicating with a telecommunications system via an intermediary local device. |
| US08112124B2 |
Electronic device and method for rapidly displaying pictures
A method for rapidly displaying pictures on an electronic device receives an identifier of a picture to be displayed. If processed data of the picture exists in a second memory of the electronic device, the processed data is retrieved from the second memory, and the picture is displayed. Otherwise, if processed data of the picture does not exist in the second memory, raw data of the picture is retrieved from a first memory of the electronic device, and the processed data is generated by encoding the raw data. The generated processed data are stored and the picture is displayed. |
| US08112123B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a first display unit configured to display on a standby screen a first indicative information indicating a first unconfirmed information having higher priority than a short-cut function of activating a predetermined function associated beforehand by being selected on the standby screen; a second display unit configured to display on the standby screen a second indicative information indicating the short-cut function; and a third display unit configured to display on the standby screen a third indicative information indicating a second unconfirmed information having lower priority than the short-cut function. |
| US08112121B2 |
Method and apparatus of preventing message input error in mobile communication terminal
A method and an apparatus f preventing transmitting message input error in a mobile communication terminal are provided. When another event is generated while the transmitting message is being inputted, character input keys are inactivated and an event window is displayed. It is checked whether an ENTER key is pressed while the event window is displayed. If the ENTER key is pressed, the event window and an icon notifying generation of the event are closed. Accordingly, a user of the mobile communication terminal can recognize the generation of the event and prevent transmitting message input error after identifying the generated event. |
| US08112119B2 |
Portable electronic device
An electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a drive mechanism and a voice-activated module. The drive mechanism connects the first housing with the second housing. The voice-activated module control the drive mechanism to drive the first housing moving relative to the second housing. |
| US08112117B2 |
Methods for handling apparatus originated communication requests and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card camps on a first cell belonging to a first wireless network via a radio transceiver module and stores first contact entries each having a destination address. A second subscriber identity card camps on a second cell belonging to a second wireless network via the radio transceiver module and stores second contact entries each having a destination address. A processor receives an apparatus originated communication request with a destination address, determines whether the received destination address is currently stored in one of the first contact entries of the first subscriber identity card or one of the second contact entries of the second subscriber identity card, and transmits the apparatus originated communication request to the cell that the determined subscriber identity card camps on to establish a wireless communication with a peer device associated with the received destination address. |
| US08112114B2 |
Multiple access communications cell phone (MAC cell phone)
The MAC Cell Phone is an automated transparent programmable telecommunication multiple access call and high-speed digital data stream facilitator as a router device for use by a consumer as a facilitator for receiving or sending VoIP telephone calls, fax transmissions, Internet access, digital file sending; receiving; storage, and video streaming which via the means and function of the MAC Cell Phone, stores determined data transmission to facilitate user subscribership interconnected MAC Cell Phone feature and service completion from a plurality of service providers for group discount cost access for the service that is provided through the invention. Additionally, an intricate feature of the MAC Cell Phone is the ability to make all facilitation functions of the MAC Cell Phone securely available to the subscriber of the service for, from, or to all other digital electronic equipment in their home and office that could utilize the functions provided. |
| US08112103B2 |
Methods and systems for mobile device messaging
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for mobile device messaging. Mobile device messaging comprises collecting from an originating system information including content data to be sent to the mobile device. One or more short messages are generating for encapsulating the content data. The one or more short messages are formatted to be readable by a web service and the content data is formatted to be readable by the mobile device. The one or more short messages are sent to the web service for delivery to the mobile device. |
| US08112099B2 |
Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services
This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber's wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber's identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. The subscriber's number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. |
| US08112098B2 |
Method of determining optimal cell configuration based upon determined device location
A configuration device for configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell can include a receiving unit configured to receive a request message from a wireless device within a wireless cell. In addition, the configuration device can include a first processing unit configured to determine location information of the wireless device, and a second processing unit configured to determine a communication capacity of the wireless device, and to estimate a communication requirement based on the request message. Furthermore, the configuration device can have a transmitting unit configured to transmit optimal information to the wireless device with respect to the request message. |
| US08112097B2 |
Base station
A base station FLC powered by a commercial power source includes a registration unit 122 for registering information of at least one mobile station using the base station, a battery 160 for supplying power to the base station, a power control unit 150 capable of switching a power supply for the base station from the commercial power source to the battery, and a transmission unit 110, 140 for transmitting a message to a mobile station registered at the registration unit when the power supply for the base station is switched from the commercial power source to the battery by the power control unit. |
| US08112096B2 |
System and method for locating an unknown base station
A system and method for estimating a location of an unknown Node B in a wireless communication system having a plurality of other nodes and a plurality of location measurement units. A first value may be determined based on a network timing characteristic for one of the nodes, and a second value may be determined based on a network measurement report characteristic from a user equipment (“UE”). An observed time difference of arrival (“OTDOA”) hyperbola may then be calculated based on the first and second values, and a location of the unknown Node B as a function of the OTDOA hyperbola. Therefore, through the combination of a UE network measurement report characteristic and a downlink timing measurement from a location measurement unit, the location of an unknown Node B may be determined. |
| US08112095B2 |
Sum rate of broadcast channels with outdated 1-bit feedback
A single-input single-output (SISO) downlink channel with K users is analyzed in the presence of Rayleigh flat fading. A limited channel state information (CSI) feedback scheme is included, where only an outdated 1-bit feedback per user is available at the base station for each fading block. A closed-form expression for the achievable ergodic sum-rate of the 1-bit feedback scheme is presented for any number of users, as a function of the fading temporal correlation coefficient, the threshold of the 1-bit CSI quantizer and the SNR. The sum-rate scales with increasing number of users as log log K, which is the same scaling law achieved by the optimal non-delayed full CSI feedback scheme. |
| US08112090B2 |
Channel assignment method, radio communication system and channel structure in radio section
In a radio communication system, a user terminal transmits a reservation packet to a base station using a common control channel (1), and the base station assigns an uplink data channel to the user terminal according to the reservation packet, and assigns a first shared control channel (2b) to the user terminal in association with the uplink data channel, and the mobile station transmits a control signal to the base station using the associated uplink shared control channel. According to status of radio communication, the base station may assign beforehand a second uplink shared control channel (2a) for which occupation by the user terminal is permitted only while the user terminal is performing communication. |
| US08112086B2 |
Secondary station and method of operating the station
A secondary station has a receiver capable of resolving signals received as a plurality of multipath signals from a plurality of base stations during a soft handover process. This capability may, for example, be provided by a Rake receiver. In order to decode and act upon the received signals in a very short period of time, signals arriving after a predetermined time are not processed by the receiver which is able instead to process weaker signals which arrived before the time. Such a secondary station is particularly suitable for decoding and acting upon power control commands included in received signals in a UMTS system, for which a very limited period of time is provided by the UMTS specification. The predetermined time may be the time after which signals are received too late for use in determining the next power control change. |
| US08112083B1 |
Method and system for dynamic adjustment of radio frequency registration period based on load conditions
A method for handling registration requests in a cellular wireless communication system. The method includes determining that an air interface in the cellular wireless communication system has at least a threshold level of load. The method further includes, in response to the determination that the system has at lease a threshold level of load, reducing a frequency at which mobile stations register with the cellular wireless communication system via the air interface. |
| US08112082B2 |
Unlicensed-radio access networks in mobile cellular communication networks
An unlicensed-radio access network is connected to a core network portion of a licensed cellular mobile network and includes a broadband network (302) with a plurality of access points (301) each defining a mini-cell and adapted to communicate with mobile stations located within a mini-cell over an unlicensed-radio interface. An access controller (303) is connected to the core network portion and to the broadband network. In accordance with the invention, the access controller (303) is associated with its own location area or areas in the licensed radio mobile network and comprises a database for storing the identification of mobile stations in association with at least one specific access point or broadband network address. This arrangement permits a mobile station to be locating within the access network in response to a paging signal from the core network without undue signalling load. |
| US08112081B2 |
Broadcast/multicast service system and method providing inter-network roaming
A method of providing a broadcast/multicast (BCAST) service, the method including receiving, from a terminal, a request of access to a BCAST service, performing service authorization with a home network, delivering, to the terminal, a message including a rights object (RO) to access the BCAST service, if the terminal is authorized to receive the BCAST service as a result of the service authorization, and providing the BCAST service to the terminal that was authorized to receive the BCAST service. |
| US08112078B2 |
System, method and program for configuring a mobile terminal to function as a two-way radio
A system, method and program for enabling a mobile terminal to communicate with a transceiver via two-way radio over a communication network. The mobile terminal receives a first radio communication, converts the first radio communication into first data packets, masks a destination port of the first data packets to appear as a data transfer port of the mobile terminal configured to exchange data with a server, and transmits the first data packets having the masked destination port to the server via the communication network. The mobile terminal receives second data packets, which are converted from a second radio communication transmitted from the transceiver and have a destination port masked to appear as a data receiving port of the mobile terminal configured to exchange data with the server, from the server via the communication network, converts the second data packets to the second radio communication, and outputs the second radio communication. |
| US08112076B2 |
Safe application distribution and execution in a wireless environment
The present invention provides safe and secure application distribution and execution by providing systems and methods that test an application to ensure that it satisfies predetermined criteria associated with the environment in which it will execute. Furthermore, by using rules and permission lists, application removal, and a modification detection technique, such as digital signatures, the present invention provides mechanisms to safely distribute and execute tested, or untested, applications by determining whether the application has been modified, determining if it has permission to execute in a given wireless device environment, and removing the application should it be desirable to do so. |
| US08112073B2 |
System for mobile radio communication with at least one subscriber area located in an overall area
The present invention relates to a communications system for mobile radio telephony comprising mobile devices, comprising modules which can be inserted into the mobile devices, with at least one subscriber territory being fixed inside the total territory covered by the communications system, within which subscriber territory communication takes place from and/or to the mobile devices under special conditions, and comprising means by which it can be determined whether the mobile device is located inside the subscriber territory. In accordance with the invention, the means are arranged on the module or in a determination unit which can be accessed by means of remote polling.The present invention furthermore relates to a method of operating a communications system for mobile radio telephony. |
| US08112072B2 |
Control of a communications device
A system for controlling a communications device is disclosed. A printer prints on a surface visual information relating to at least one operation of the communications device and coded data portions. Each coded data portion encodes a region identifier which uniquely identifies a region on the surface, and a portion identifier which uniquely identifies the coded data portion. A sensing device placed in an operative position relative to the coded data portions, generate indicating data regarding the region identifier and the portion identifier. A computer system receives the indicating data and determines an operation associated with the region identifier and the portion identifier. Finally, the computer system sends one or more commands to the communications device, thereby effecting the at least one operation. |
| US08112064B2 |
Function lock information notification method and mobile communication terminal
If a lock request for function of an IC card function section is executed from a locking terminal via a mobile communication network, a lock request detection section 51 detects the lock request. If the lock request is detected in this manner, the function lock section 52 locks the function of the IC card function section by sending a function lock instruction via a wired communication path to the IC card function section. The function lock notification section 53 then notifies the fact that the function has been locked to a locking notification mail communication unit pre-registered in the terminal registration table 23T via the mobile communication network. In this way, since function lock information of a contactless type communication device fitted in a mobile communication terminal is appropriately notified via a mobile communication network, convenience for the user is improved. |
| US08112056B2 |
Distributed direct conversion receiver (DDCR) for UWB systems
A novel DDCR RF front-end for use in UWB applications combining a distributed approach which provides wideband functionality of the RF front-end with I-Q requirement of DCRs. The distributed architecture uses composite cells of a merged LNA and mixer along the input RF T-line. |
| US08112053B2 |
Shared LNA and PA gain control in a wireless device
A wireless device includes at least one antenna, a plurality of shared signal path components coupled to the at least one antenna, the plurality of shared signal path components including a shared adjustable gain element, e.g., Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), Power Amplifier (PA), etc., a first wireless interface, e.g. Wireless Local Area Network interface coupled to the plurality of shared signal path components, and a second wireless interface, e.g., Wireless Personal Area Network interface, coupled to the plurality of shared signal path components. During a first operational period, the first wireless interface controls gain of the shared adjustable gain element and during a second operational period that differs from the first operational period, the second wireless network interface controls gain of the shared adjustable gain element. With another embodiment the first wireless interface and/or the second wireless interface each includes shared adjustable gain elements for transmit and receive diversity. |
| US08112052B2 |
Automatic gain control loop with hysteresis switching
An automatic gain control system with hysteresis switching includes an error calculator for calculating the difference between a first estimation signal and a take over point (TOP) value to produce an error signal. A hysteresis comparator compares the first estimation signal and the TOP value to produce a control signal. A first gain control loop generates a first gain control signal based on the control signal to control a gain of a first variable gain amplifier. A second gain control loop generates a second gain control signal based on the control signal to control a gain of a second variable gain amplifier. As the first estimation signal leaves a hysteresis region of the hysteresis comparator, the first gain control signal is monotonically decreasing and the first gain control signal is monotonically increasing. As a result, the total gain is stable. |
| US08112050B2 |
Reducing power consumption in receivers employing conversion to intermediate frequency
A receiver to recover a signal of interest while consuming reduced power in some scenarios. The receiver contains a in-phase channel processing path and a quadrature phase channeling path for down converting an input signal to an intermediate frequency, and then recovering the signal of interest by further processing of the input signal at intermediate frequency. One of the two paths is turned off upon occurrence of a desired condition, which reduces power consumption. In an embodiment, the condition is that the input signal does not contain an image signal of the signal of interest. |
| US08112048B2 |
Method and apparatus to manage power consumption of a semiconductor device
Briefly, a method an apparatus of a power management system of a semiconductor device capable of managing a power consumption of the semiconductor device by varying an operating voltage of the semiconductor device according to a voltage value based on a reference number. |
| US08112047B2 |
Configurable RF transmitter
An RF transmitter includes a Cartesian to polar conversion section, a PLL, a DAC module, a mixing module, and a PA module. The Cartesian to polar conversion section converts a Cartesian based symbol stream into a polar based symbol stream. The PLL generates an oscillation when the RF transmitter is in a Cartesian mode or a phase modulated oscillation based on phase modulation information of the polar based symbol stream when the RF transmitter is in a polar mode. The mixing module mixes an analog Cartesian based signal with a local oscillation to produce a Cartesian based up converted signal when the RF transmitter is in the Cartesian mode and mixes an analog amplitude signal with a phase modulated local oscillation to produce a polar based up converted signal when the RF transmitter is in the polar mode. The PA module amplifies the Cartesian based up converted signal to produce an outbound RF signal when the RF transmitter is in the Cartesian mode and amplifies the polar based up converted signal to produce the outbound RF signal when the RF transmitter is in the polar mode. |
| US08112046B2 |
Wearable one way transfer device
A wearable, one-way transfer device component for use in a communications system that includes a first device coupled to a first communication network that receives and compiles global positioning data corresponding to the physical location of one or more objects, a first serial communication path for transmitting the global positioning data from the first device, the first serial communications path being unidirectional to prevent data from being transmitted to the first device, means for formatting the global positioning data received from the first serial path into a serial communication format, a second serial communication path for transmitting the formatted global positioning data to a second device associated with a second communication network, and a user replaceable means for providing power to the means for formatting the global positioning data. |
| US08112045B2 |
Translational loop transmitter architecture employing channel power ratio measurements for modulation accuracy calibration
A Radio Frequency RF transmitter includes a translational loop architecture that supports non-constant envelope modulation types and includes by adjusting the envelope of the translational loop at the translational loop output. The RF transmitter includes an Intermediate Frequency (IF) modulator, a translational loop, an envelope time delay adjust block, an envelope adjust block, and a time delay calibration block. The IF modulator receives a modulated baseband signal and produces a modulated IF signal having a non-constant envelope. The translational loop receives the modulated IF signal and produces a modulated RF signal having a constant envelope. The envelope time delay adjust block receives an envelope signal corresponding to the original modulated signal and produces a time delayed envelope signal based upon a time delay control signal. The envelope adjust block adjusts the modulated RF signal based upon the time delayed envelope signal to produce an envelope adjusted modulated RF signal. Finally, the time delay calibration block receives the envelope adjusted modulated RF signal and produces the time delay control signal. |
| US08112043B2 |
Radio frequency communication devices and methods
One embodiment relates to a radio frequency (RF) communication device. The RF communication device includes an antenna interface coupled to an antenna that exhibits a time-varying impedance. The RF communication device also includes a test interface coupled to RF test equipment that exhibits a test impedance. A tuning circuit in the RF communications device selectively provides a matched impedance to either the time-varying impedance or the test impedance based on feedback derived from the test interface. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08112041B2 |
Systems and methods for generating sequences that are nearest to a set of sequences with minimum average cross-correlation
A method for generating sequences that are nearest to a set of sequences with minimum average cross-correlation is described. Each element of a set of sequences is projected to a nearest constellation point. The set of sequences is converted into a time domain representation. An inverse discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) is performed on the set of sequences. A cubic metric of each sequence of the set of sequences is evaluated. A sequence is removed from the set if the cubic metric exceeds a threshold. A minimum maximum cross-correlation is obtained for the set of sequences. |
| US08112033B2 |
Data relay apparatus, communication apparatus and communication method
A data relay apparatus includes a first demodulating unit, demodulating a modulation signal of a first modulation mode from a first transmission source; a second demodulating unit, demodulating a modulation signal from a second transmission source, having a modulation mode higher than the first modulation mode; a combination controlling unit, providing a mapping rule necessary for performing signal combination in accordance with the modulation mode of the modulation signal from each of the first and second transmission source, the mapping rule to map the demodulated modulation signal from the first transmission source together with the demodulated modulation signal from the second transmission source to a constellation of symbols of the second modulation mode; a data combining unit, performing data combination on the demodulated modulation signal from the first transmission source and the demodulated modulation signal from the second transmission source according to the mapping rule. |
| US08112032B2 |
Portable media player as a remote control
A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player. |
| US08112026B2 |
Lubricant applying device, and image forming assembly and image forming apparatus which employ the same
A lubricant applying device that faces a rotatable body, and that applies a solid lubricant to the rotatable body, includes: a lubricating roll in which the solid lubricant for application is formed into a circular sectional shape around a rotatable support shaft, and that is contacted with the rotatable body; and a pressing mechanism that presses the lubricating roll toward the rotatable body, wherein the lubricating roll that is pressed against the rotatable body by the pressing mechanism applies the lubricant in a state where the lubricating roll is not rotated relative to the rotatable body, and, when a rotational torque due to the contact with the rotatable body exceeds a predetermined value, the lubricating roll is rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotatable body. |
| US08112025B2 |
Cooling device and cooling method for a printing substrate in an electrographic printer or copier
In a cooling device for a printing substrate after passage through a fixing station, a transport path is provided for the printing substrate. A first cooling unit is provided along one side of the transport path. The first cooling unit has a first perforated plate facing towards the printing substrate, a coolant being conducted through the perforated plate. A second cooling unit is provided along an opposite side of the transport path. This second cooling unit has a perforated plate on a surface facing towards the printing substrate. A coolant is conducted through the perforated plate onto the opposite side of the printing substrate. A nip unit for the printing substrate has a nip roll integrated into the second cooling unit such that the nip roll is cooled by the second cooling unit. |
| US08112021B2 |
Image forming apparatus having mechanism for correcting pull of belt member
An image forming apparatus that adjusts an inclination angle of a supporting roller for regulating pulling of a belt member serving as an intermediate transfer belt or a recording-material supporting belt. The image forming apparatus changes a method of adjusting an inclination angle of the supporting roller in accordance with a winding angle of the belt member with respect to the supporting roller. |
| US08112020B2 |
Developing device and image-forming apparatus
Embodiments relate to a developing device for use in an image-forming apparatus including a developing roller having a conductive base surface which may be covered with a resin layer containing an ion conductive material and a silicone-modified urethane resin having an ether structure. The resin layer may be a product of a crosslinking reaction of the silicone-modified urethane resin and the ion conductive material in the presence of a crosslinking agent and a crosslinking catalyst. |
| US08112018B2 |
Developing unit and an image forming apparatus
A developing unit includes a developing unit body having a toner inlet and a developing roller mounted in the developing unit body. A toner feeding unit for feeding is provided to feed the toner from the toner inlet to the developing roller. A doctor blade is integrally formed with the developing unit body for controlling the thickness of the toner supplied to the developing roller. |
| US08112017B2 |
Developing unit and developer stirring and transporting method
There are provided a developing unit and a developer stirring and transporting method in which the amount of developer in the developing unit can always be kept at a specified amount without being influenced by a use environment. A developing unit 10 includes a developing roller 12, a containing unit 16 to contain the developer and having a discharge port 14 to discharge the overflown developer in its side wall, a stirring and transporting member 20 to stir and transport the developer along a passage 18 formed in the containing unit 16, and a guide unit 22 provided in the passage 18 correspondingly to the discharge port 14 of the containing unit 16 and to guide the developer transported in the passage 18 by the stirring and transporting member 20 to the discharge port 14 side. |
| US08112010B2 |
Energization control device and image forming apparatus
A heating unit heated upon receiving power supplied from an AC power supply, a temperature detecting unit detecting the temperature of the heating unit, a memory storing power energization pattern in which power energization and non-power energization are performed for each percentage of AC power, and a power control unit that determines the percentage of AC power applied to the heating unit based on the temperature and that determines the power energization pattern by referring to the memory are provided. When the power energization percentage is changed, the power control unit changes the power energization pattern after the power energization percentage is changed in accordance with the changed power energization percentage based on the power energization pattern before the power energization percentage is changed and the power energization pattern after the power energization percentage is changed. |
| US08112004B2 |
Optical receiver implemented with dual electronic dispersion compensators
An optical receiver implemented with two electronic dispersion compensators (EDC) is disclosed. The optical receiver selects one of the EDC in an ordinary operation. Once there shaped signal compensated by the selected EDC is degraded due to irregular conditions of the optical transmission line, the optical transmitter and so on, the optical receiver reconfigures the tap coefficients of the unselected EDC and switches to the newly configured EDC after setting the tap coefficients for the new condition of the transmission line and the transmitter. |
| US08111993B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optical transmission of digital signals
A system (100) for transmitting digital information includes a transmitting apparatus (102) for generating an optical signal bearing digital information, a dispersive optical channel (104), and a receiving apparatus (110) for receiving the optical signal. The dispersive optical channel (104) is disposed to convey the optical signal from the transmitting apparatus (102) to the receiving apparatus (110). The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder (114) for encoding digital information into a series of blocks, each including a plurality of data symbols corresponding with one or more bits of digital information. A signal generator (118) generates a time-varying signal corresponding with each of said blocks. An optical transmitter (136) is arranged to apply the time-varying signal to an optical source (138) to produce an optical signal which includes an optical carrier and substantially only a single information bearing optical sideband in an optical frequency domain, the sideband corresponding with the time-varying signal. The receiving apparatus (110) includes an optical detector (146) for detecting the optical signal to produce a corresponding received time-varying electrical signal. The receiver further includes means (166) for generating a series of received data blocks from the time-varying electrical signal. An equalizer (168) performs an equalization of received data symbols included in each data block to mitigate the effect of dispersion of the optical channel, thereby enabling the transmitted data symbols to be recovered. |
| US08111992B2 |
Amplified wavelength broadband video distribution architectures
Provided herein are embodiments of a device, method of use and system for a low-cost analog multi-wavelength video distribution transamplifier for CATV and FTTH networks having a broadband overlay. The transamplifier embodiments described herein allow the use of multiple wavelengths to segment logical service groups in a CATV distribution system and a FTTH system having a broadband overlay. |
| US08111987B2 |
Rogue ONU detection via photonic mixing
A system, method, and computer readable medium for rogue Optical Network Unit (ONU) detection via photonic mixing, comprises a first Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM), a second WDM communicably coupled to the first WDM, a non-linear medium communicably coupled to the second WDM, and a photodetector communicably coupled to the non-linear medium, wherein the first WDM transmits a first upstream beam and a second upstream beam to the second WDM, wherein the first upstream beam is a normal upstream beam and wherein the second upstream beam is a rogue upstream beam, wherein the second WDM transmits the normal upstream beam and the rogue upstream beam to the non-linear medium, wherein the non-linear medium mixes the normal upstream beam and the rogue upstream beam resulting in a mixed beam, wherein the non-linear medium transmits the mixed beam to the photodetector, and wherein the photodetector analyzes the mixed beam to indicate the presence of a rogue ONU. |
| US08111985B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing line analysis of continuous data signals
An apparatus for performing an optical line analysis of continuous data signals. The apparatus comprise a phase position processor for computing a phase early/late indicator; a phase control code processor for computing a difference phase indicator; a frequency extractor for computing a low frequency jitter indicator; and a statistical calculator for computing a plurality of statistical measures regarding frequency and amplitude components of a jitter of an input continuous data signal, wherein the statistical measures are computed based on one of the phase early/late information indicator, the difference phase indicator, or the low frequency jitter indicator. |
| US08111980B2 |
Water heater and method of controlling the same
A water heater including a water inlet line having an inlet opening that introduces cold water to a tank, a water outlet line having an outlet opening that withdraws heated water from the tank, and a heating element. The water heater further includes a control circuit. The heating element can be an electrical resistance heating element, a gas heating element, or a combination thereof. In one construction, the gas heating element includes a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section. |
| US08111979B2 |
Automated fryer filtration device and method
Automated intermittent filtration is employed in the device and method that can include monitoring the elapsed time since the last filtration of the cooking oil, monitoring the amount of food by number of batches or by weight of food product cooked in the oil since the last filtration, and filtering the oil when a predetermined threshold value is reached based on the elapsed time since the last filtration and the amount of food cooked. |
| US08111977B2 |
Playback device and method
To provide a playback device 200 that outputs video to a display device by converting an output frame rate of source video signals in accordance with a display capability of the display device, the source video signals having 60 Hz frame rate in a first period and 24 Hz frame rate in a second period. |
| US08111973B2 |
Television apparatus
The present invention provides a television apparatus that can reproduce and show a program when the program is stopped without a user performing troublesome operations even when the user is occupied with a sudden phone call or an unexpected visitor while he/she is watching television. A volume comparator starts recording of the program, which is currently being watched, by using a recording apparatus when a set volume value is lower than a threshold value or is set to a sound cancelling mode. Also, when a newly set volume value is higher than the threshold value or the sound cancelling is released, the volume comparator stops the display of the program that is currently being watched and starts reproducing display of the recorded program by returning to the recording start time point. |
| US08111971B2 |
Systems and methods of reducing media stream delay through independent decoder clocks
In one embodiment, a method of reducing video delay in a program stream comprises: setting an audio reference clock to an initial value based on a presentation timestamp for a frame that is the first decodable frame in the audio stream; setting a video reference clock to an initial value based on a presentation timestamp for a frame that is the first decodable frame in the video stream; starting audio and video reference clocks responsive to the later of a minimum buffer fill delay and receipt of a frame that is the first entire decodable frame in the video stream; decoding the audio stream in accordance with the audio reference clock; and decoding the video stream in accordance with the video reference clock. |
| US08111970B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation frequency optimizing device and method with ambient heat conversion device
A device comprising a conversion channel including: a first end configured to accept ambient electromagnetic radiation, the ambient electromagnetic radiation having an initial frequency, a second end configured to allow the ambient electromagnetic radiation to exit, and at least two opposing walls connecting the first end and the second end, wherein the at least two opposing walls include one or more crystals, the at least two opposing walls being separated by at least one-half of a wave length; wherein when the ambient electromagnetic radiation interacts with the one or more crystals of the at least two opposing side walls, the initial frequency of the ambient electromagnetic radiation being repeatedly increased to an optimal frequency is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided. |
| US08111964B2 |
Optical fiber
The present invention provides an optical fiber in which composites constructing its coating are not complicated, so, there is also little constraint in view of production, and, moreover, delamination between a glass optical fiber and a primary layer, and a bubble in the primary layer hardly arise. The optical fiber of the present invention is an optical fiber which has a glass optical fiber which has a core 1, which passes an optical signal, in a center portion, and a cladding 2 surrounding this, a primary protective layer 3 made to coat the glass optical fiber, a secondary protective layer 4 applied on this primary protective layer 3, and a third protective layer 5 applied to an outer periphery of this secondary protective layer 4, wherein glass transition temperature of the primary protective layer 3 is made to be higher than −20° C. and 10° C. or lower, glass transition temperature of the secondary protective layer 4 is made to be −10° C. or less, and the glass transition temperature of the primary protective layer 3 is set higher than that of the secondary protective layer 4. |
| US08111963B2 |
Large diameter optical waveguide, grating and laser
A large diameter optical waveguide, grating, and laser includes a waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding, the core propagating light in substantially a few transverse spatial modes; and having an outer waveguide dimension of said waveguide being greater than about 0.3 mm. At least one Bragg grating may be impressed in the waveguide. The waveguide may be axially compressed which causes the length of the waveguide to decrease without buckling. The waveguide may be used for any application where a waveguide needs to be compression tuned. Also, the waveguide exhibits lower mode coupling from the core to the cladding and allows for higher optical power to be used when writing gratings without damaging the waveguide. The waveguide may resemble a short “block” or a longer “cane” type, depending on the application and dimensions used. |
| US08111956B2 |
Method and apparatus for confirming optical fibers connection in optical connector
Provided is a method for confirming optical fibers connection in a connection part in an optical connector, including: allowing light to pass through a first optical fiber and allowing cladding mode light to disappear; and detecting a difference in light intensity in the connection part between before and after the light from the first optical fiber enters a second optical fiber disposed in the optical connector. |
| US08111954B2 |
Module substrate including optical transmission mechanism and method of producing the same
A module substrate is provided. The module substrate includes: a core portion; a build-up layer formed on the core portion and including a wiring pattern and an insulating layer; an optical transmission mechanism including: an optical transmission component including an optical waveguide, and a mounting portion on which a semiconductor element is to be mounted. The mounting portion is electrically connected to the optical transmission mechanism via the wiring pattern. The mounting portion includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, and the optical transmission mechanism is disposed between the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion. |
| US08111951B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting target image
The present invention relates to a target image detecting apparatus and a method thereof. According to the present invention, the target video detecting apparatus calculates a video index for each frame of an input broadcasting signal, and compares a video index of an advertisement signal to be detected with the calculated video index of each frame of the broadcasting signal. In addition, the target video detecting apparatus detects a predetermined sequence of frames having video indexes that match a sequence of video indexes of the advertisement signal from the broadcasting signal. In addition, the target video detecting apparatus compares video indexes from a start frame of the detected plurality of frames and the corresponding frame of the advertisement signal in order to detect an advertisement signal from the broadcasting signal. |
| US08111942B2 |
System and method for optimizing camera settings
There is provided an electronic system including an image capturing device and a comparator coupled to the image capturing device. The image capturing device is operable for capturing a live image. The comparator generates a feedback signal by comparing the live image with a reference image and adjusts at least one setting of the image capturing device by the feedback signal. |
| US08111941B2 |
Method for dynamic range editing
A method of displaying a high dynamic range image, comprising receiving the high dynamic range image, calculating a first set of tone mapping parameters as a function of the high dynamic range image, sub-sampling the first set of tone mapping parameters at a first resolution to create a first sub-sampled parameter set, creating a first tone-mapped image by processing the high dynamic range image as a function of the first sub-sampled parameter set, and displaying the first tone-mapped image. A method of composting a plurality of versions of an image to create the high dynamic range image is also disclosed such that the compositing may be modified as a function of received user input. |
| US08111939B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device includes: an estimating module configured to estimate boundaries of blocks in an input image; a characteristic value calculating module configured to calculate a characteristic value of a subject pixel group having constituent pixels including a pixel in the frame and at least one pixel that is adjacent to the pixel by calculating a degree of pixel value dispersion between the constituent pixels of the subject pixel group if all the constituent pixels belong to the same block; an strength value calculating module configured to calculate, from the characteristic value, a strength value to be used in performing pixel value smoothing; and a smoothing module configured to perform the pixel value smoothing according to the strength value. |
| US08111938B2 |
System and method for fast approximate focus
Fast approximate focus operations providing an approximately focused image that is sufficiently focused to support certain subsequent inspection operations. The operations are particularly advantageous when used to provide images for successive inspection operations that predominate when inspecting planar workpieces. Improved inspection throughput is provided because, in contrast to conventional autofocus operations, the fast approximate focus operations do not acquire an image stack during a run mode as a basis for determining a best focused image. Rather, during learn mode, a representative feature-specific focus curve and a focus threshold value are determined and used during run mode to provide an approximately focused image that reliably supports certain inspection operations. In one embodiment, an acceptable approximately focused inspection image is provided within a limit of two focus adjustment moves that provide two corresponding images. The adjustment moves are based on the representative feature-specific focus curve provided in learn mode. |
| US08111937B2 |
Optimized image processing for wavefront coded imaging systems
An image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream and processing the data stream with a color-specific filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. Another image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream and colorspace converting the data stream. The method separates spatial information and color information of the colorspace converted data stream into one or more separate channels and deblurs one or both of the spatial information and the color information. The method recombines the channels to recombine deblurred spatial information with deblurred color information, and colorspace converts the recombined deblurred spatial and color information to generate an output image. |
| US08111933B2 |
Image processing circuit, and display panel driver and display device mounting the circuit
A display panel driver including a compression circuit configured to, when receiving image data of a set of pixels of a target block, generate compressed image data corresponding to the target block by compressing the image data, the number of the set of pixels being equal to or more than four, an image memory configured to store the compressed image data, a decompression circuit configured to generate decompressed image data by decompressing the compressed image data reading from the image memory, and a drive circuit configured to drive a display panel in response to the decompressed image data, wherein the compression circuit selects one of a plurality of compression methods based on a correlation between the image data of the set of pixels of the target block, and generates the compressed image data by using the selected compression method. |
| US08111926B2 |
Image processing method for deriving text characteristic image from input image and related apparatus
An image processing method for deriving text characteristic images from an input image includes: performing a plurality of edge detecting processes upon the input image to generate a plurality of edge images, respectively, and deriving a first text characteristic image according to the edge images. The image detecting processes include: performing a first edge detecting process upon the input image to derive a first edge image according to a first upper threshold and a first lower threshold, and performing a second edge detecting process upon the input image to derive a second edge image according to a second upper threshold and a second lower threshold. |
| US08111922B2 |
Bi-directional handwriting insertion and correction
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing bi-handwriting directional handwriting recognition and correction. A combined handwriting recognizer is provided that supports left-to-right and right-to-left language recognition by using a combined dictionary. The combined dictionary includes a dictionary from a language in a first direction, along with a backwards version of a dictionary from a language in a second direction. The combined recognizer is used with the combined dictionary to generate a most likely recognition result for mixed direction hand written input received from a user. Character by character correction is provided for mixed left-to-right and right-to-left text. The most likely recognition result is displayed in a visual order. The user can correct a particular character to a different character. When recognized text needs to be sent to a separate application, an inverse bi-directional process is performed to convert the text from the visual order to the logical order. |
| US08111921B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing model-based OPC for pattern decomposed features
A method for decomposing a target circuit pattern containing features to be imaged into multiple patterns. The process includes the steps of separating the features to be printed into a first pattern and a second pattern; performing a first optical proximity correction process on the first pattern and the second pattern; determining an imaging performance of the first pattern and the second pattern; determining a first error between the first pattern and the imaging performance of the first pattern, and a second error between the second pattern and the imaging performance of said second pattern; utilizing the first error to adjust the first pattern to generate a modified first pattern; utilizing the second error to adjust the second pattern to generate a modified second pattern; and applying a second optical proximity correction process to the modified first pattern and the modified second pattern. |
| US08111915B2 |
Apparatus and method of enhancing color of image
An apparatus and method of enhancing color of image is provided. The apparatus for enhancing color of image including: a saturation enhancement unit to enhance a saturation of an input image using a saturation variation according to a brightness feature of the input image; a gray scale area protection unit to determine a final saturation variation depending on a saturation value of the input image and the saturation variation, and to prevent a saturation enhancement of a gray scale area; a color control unit to control a color of the input image using a color variation according to the brightness feature of the input image; and a brightness value correction unit to correct a difference between a resultant brightness value and an input brightness value of the input image, the resultant brightness value being generated by applying the final saturation variation and the color variation to the input image. |
| US08111913B2 |
Countermeasures against original background retrieval
A device and method of modifying an image containing a foreground and an original or substitute background are disclosed. Boundary pixels contain only the original background or the original background and the foreground. The original background is replaced by a predetermined or random color or by a color corresponding to the substitute background. The entire boundary pixel can be replaced by the replacement color. Alternatively, the ratio of the foreground to the original background can be estimated from the neighboring pixels and only the original background replaced by the replacement color. Once some or all of the boundary pixels are replaced, the image can be transmitted or otherwise transferred to other devices or viewers. Some or all of the images in a video can be modified. |
| US08111912B2 |
Cost-effective image metadata creation using near-duplicate image detection
Briefly, embodiments describe a method, article and/or system for determining image similarity. |
| US08111911B2 |
System and methods for arabic text recognition based on effective arabic text feature extraction
A method for automatically recognizing Arabic text includes digitizing a line of Arabic characters to form a two-dimensional array of pixels each associated with a pixel value, wherein the pixel value is expressed in a binary number, dividing the line of the Arabic characters into a plurality of line images, defining a plurality of cells in one of the plurality of line images, wherein each of the plurality of cells comprises a group of adjacent pixels, serializing pixel values of pixels in each of the plurality of cells in one of the plurality of line images to form a binary cell number, forming a text feature vector according to binary cell numbers obtained from the plurality of cells in one of the plurality of line images, and feeding the text feature vector into a Hidden Markov Model to recognize the line of Arabic characters. |
| US08111898B2 |
Method for facilitating automatic analysis of defect printability
Defect printability analysis in a mask or wafer requires the accurate identification of defect images and reference (i.e. defect-free) images, in particular for a die-to-die inspection mode. A method of automatically distinguishing a reference image from a defect image is provided. In this method, multiple images can be accessed and aligned. Then, a common area of the multiple images can be defined. At this point, a complexity of each of the images, as defined by the common area, can be computed. Advantageously, by comparing the complexity of the multiple images, the reference and defect images can be quickly and accurately designated. Specifically, the most complex image is designated the defect image because the defect image must describe the defect. Complexity can be computed using various techniques. |
| US08111893B2 |
Method for dynamic prior image constrained image reconstruction
A method for reconstructing a high quality image from undersampled image data is provided. The image reconstruction method is applicable to a number of different imaging modalities. Specifically, the present invention provides an image reconstruction method that incorporates an appropriate prior image into the image reconstruction process. One aspect of the invention is to provide an image reconstruction method that produces a time series of desired images indicative of a higher temporal resolution than is ordinarily achievable with the imaging system, while mitigating undesired image artifacts. This is generally achieved by incorporating a limited amount of additional image data into the data consistency condition imposed during a prior image constrained image reconstruction. For example, cardiac phase images can be produced with high temporal resolution using a state-of-the-art multi-detector CT system with either fast gantry rotation speed or CT imaging system with a slow gantry rotation speed. |
| US08111891B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus, myocardial perfusion information generating system, X-ray diagnostic method and myocardial perfusion information generating method
An X-ray CT apparatus has an image generating unit and a blood flow information acquiring unit. The image generating unit acquires projection data at rest and at non-rest from a myocardial part of an object into which contrast medium is injected continuously in a state in which each concentration of the contrast medium can be considered to be constant and reconstructs contrast CT image data at the rest and at the non-rest using the acquired projection data. The blood flow information acquiring unit obtains third blood flow information based in first blood flow information derived from the contrast CT image data at the rest and second blood flow information derived from the contrast CT image data at the non-rest. |
| US08111890B2 |
Medical image generating device, method and program
An image-constituting element group corresponding to bone areas is selected from among a plurality of image-constituting elements that make up a three-dimensional image model, and CT values originally associated only with the selected image-constituting element group are replaced by values resulting from multiplying the original values by ¼. As a result, a distribution curve 34A denoting a frequency distribution of bone is shifted to a region of CT values that are lower than those of a distribution curve 33 denoting a frequency distribution of blood vessels. An observation image is then constructed by maximum intensity projection on the basis of three-dimensional image data after such signal value replacement. |
| US08111887B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus and image processing program
Disclosed are an image processing method, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing program which perform appropriate gradation processing in each brightness region while gradation continuity is maintained. The image processing apparatus which applies image processing including gradation conversion processing to image data, the image processing apparatus having: an image processing section for applying image processing to the image data based on each of a plurality of different gradation conversion processing characteristics, thereby generating a plurality of image-processed image data; a synthesis ratio calculating section for calculating the synthesis ratios of the plurality of image-processed image data by referencing image information of the image data prior to image processing; and a synthesis section for synthesizing the plurality of image-processed image data based on the synthesis ratios, thereby generating image data to be outputted. |
| US08111879B2 |
Face and iris imaging system and method
A duplex camera with common face and iris imaging optics locates an iris in a scene and images the iris without requiring multiple camera alignment or a rapid zoom capability. A wavelength selective mirror separates the light from an imaged scene into visible and infrared components. The visible component supplies a face image in which an iris location can be determined. Visible light optics and a visible light sensor array provide a scene image to an image processor that determines the iris location. Infrared optics and an infrared sensor produce an iris image centered on the iris location. Upon determining an iris location, a motorized stage can position the iris image in the infrared sensor. The common face and imaging optics allow the image sensors to be permanently aligned to one another. |
| US08111876B2 |
Object position estimating system, object position estimating apparatus, object position estimating method, and object position estimating program
A plurality of pieces of observation raw data observed by an observation unit are subjected to an object identifying process, and by using a parameter determined by a parameter determination unit in accordance with a period of time between a point of object identifying process completion time of one piece of data and process completion scheduled time of another piece of data, a position estimating process of the object is carried out from the data that has been subjected to the object identifying process, and the position of the object relating to the object ID is estimated based upon the object ID and positional candidates acquired by an object identifying unit. |
| US08111873B2 |
Method for tracking objects in a scene
A method for tracking objects in a scene being viewed by a sequence of digital images comprises: separating a region of interest in the digital images into a plurality of spatially smaller, overlapping modules, and defining a hidden Markov model for each module. The method further comprises observing detections of positions of possible objects at different times, considering a set of states at a point of time (t1) such that the set of states comprises a state having a global optimum probability, and backtracking through the sequence of digital images for each hidden Markov model to shrink the set of states that are possible for earlier parts of the sequence of digital images, such that a single optimal state is found for an earlier point of time (t2 |
| US08111870B2 |
Electrodynamic transducer and use thereof in loudspeakers and geophones
An electrodynamic transducer includes a frame and contains at least one electric coil which is placed in a static magnetic field and which can move about a rest position in a vertical free space. The coil(s) is wound around and fixed to a mandrel and a return member is used to return the coil-bearing mandrel to the rest position in the absence of an external bias, the straight cylinder defining an inner volume and an outer volume. The magnetic field is produced by outer and inner magnetic structures which each comprise at least one fixed permanent magnet in the form of a ring. The motor does not contain any ferromagnetic or magnetic part between the outer volume and the inner volume. At least the part of the frame that is used to fix the magnets is made from a non-ferromagnetic and non-magnetic material. |
| US08111869B2 |
Speaker device
A speaker device includes a damper allowing high linearity. The speaker device includes a vibration body including a damper and a voice coil bobbin (bobbin), and a magnetic circuit having a plate. The damper has a first member arranged opposite the plate, and a second member projecting on a side of the plate from the first member. The first member has a movable part elastically supporting the bobbin. The movable part is a flat plate, and behaves with respect to a bent part provided between the movable part and the second member with movement of the bobbin in an acoustic radiation direction and reverse. Therefore, when a constant force is given to the damper via the voice coil, a displacement of the damper with respect to a rest position can be substantially similar in such a case that the damper behaves in the acoustic radiation direction and the reverse. |
| US08111865B2 |
Flat panel speaker mounting system
An apparatus for mounting two speakers to a flat panel display device is disclosed wherein the device, utilizing standardized mounting plates provided in such flat panel display devices, enables the mounting of two speakers while providing the ability to change speaker position in regards to six different position parameters. The apparatus may be utilized in conjunction with flat panel mounting devices, such as pedestal, wall or ceiling mounts, or utilized independently thereof. More specifically, the device further provides independent adjustment of the position of each speaker mounted thereby in regard to height, fore/aft and depth position, as well as rotation about an X, Y and Z axis. The device enables one to make changes in—regard to the position of a speaker—or other peripheral devices mounted thereon—relative to one or more of the aforementioned movements without altering other aspects of speaker position, if desired. |
| US08111863B2 |
Earbud adapter
Adapters for use with sound devices and methods for making and using the same. In some embodiments, an example adapter may include an adapter body having a first side, a port or projection extending from the first side, and a second side. The second side is generally configured to be attachable to a sound device such as an earbud or earbud-type of headphone. The projection may include a sleeve attached thereto. The projection and sleeve are generally configured to at least in part extend into the ear canal of a user during use. |
| US08111861B2 |
Earbud that secures to the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear
An earphone projects sound into an ear having an acoustic meatus, a tragus, an intertragic notch, an anti-tragus and a canal. The earphone includes a base that is positioned proximate an outer surface of the tragus and anti-tragus when the earphone is mounted to the ear. A speaker housing at least partially contacts the acoustic meatus of the ear and includes a speaker cover positioned proximate the canal when the earphone is mounted to the ear. First and second tragus lobes extend from the base generally toward the speaker housing. The first and second tragus lobes are spaced from and positioned on generally opposite lateral sides of the speaker housing. The anti-tragus being held between the first tragus lobe and the base when the earphone is mounted to the ear and the tragus being held between the second tragus lobe and the base when the earphone is mounted to the ear. |
| US08111856B2 |
Variable directional microphone unit and variable directional microphone
A variable directional microphone unit includes two capacitor elements. Each of the two capacitor elements has: a back plate formed on one side of an insulating plate to be insulated from a back plate of the other capacitor element; and a vibrating plate disposed to face the back plate with a certain amount of space therebetween, in which a polarization voltage is applied between each of the back plates and the vibrating plates so that an electroacoustically transduced signal is obtainable from each of the back plates. The variable directional microphone unit is characterized in that the two vibrating plates of the two capacitor elements are acoustically connected in series as a plurality of holes are formed on both of the back plates. |
| US08111855B2 |
Microphone assembly and a portable electronic device using the microphone assembly
A microphone assembly (10) using in a portable electronic device includes a fixing component (12) detachably fixed to a housing (30) of the portable electronic device, and a main microphone body (14) latched to the fixing component (12). The microphone assembly (10) may be conveniently detached and increases reliability of the housing (30). |
| US08111852B2 |
Hearing aid with component mounted in the housing by a damping clip
A hearing aid has at least one converter element which, in order to reduce mechanical vibrations, is flexibly attached inside or at the hearing aid housing. The converter is mounted in the housing by at least one clip that flexibly is moveable or displaceable in its range of action like a spring, in order to damp and attach the converter element. |
| US08111848B2 |
Hearing aid with acoustical signal direction of arrival control
Acoustical signals from the acoustical surrounding (U) which impinge upon a reception unit 30 are evaluated and direction of arrival (DOA) of such signals is determined. From signals indicative of such direction of arrival (DOA) a histogram is formed in unit 32. The behavior of such histogram is classified under different aspects or criteria and dependent on classification results in a classifying unit 34 the hearing device and thereby especially its signal transfer characteristic from input acoustical signals to output mechanical signals is controlled or adjusted. |
| US08111847B2 |
Electret materials, electret speakers, and methods of manufacturing the same
A speaker comprises at least one electrode electrically coupled with an audio signal input and a film comprising at least one electret layer. The film is configured to interact with the electrode in response to an audio signal supplied by the audio signal input and to vibrate to generate sound waves. The electret layer is formed from a polymer-containing solution. |
| US08111845B2 |
System having a pulse width modulation device
A system, a device and a method for pulse width modulation is disclosed. One embodiment includes a pulse width modulation device, a first pulse width modulation mapper for pulse width modulation of a data signal, or a signal derived therefrom, and a second pulse width modulation mapper for pulse width modulation of a reference signal, or a signal derived therefrom. In one or more embodiments, the data signal e.g., can be a signal for a mono audio channel, or a signal for a stereo audio channel. The reference signal can be a signal including a constant signal level or a signal including a non-constant signal level an offset signal. |
| US08111834B2 |
Vehicular active noise control system
A frequency detecting circuit estimates the frequency fp of a propeller shaft based on the frequency fc of vehicle speed pulses, and calculates a control frequency fp′ which is a harmonic of the frequency fp. A basic signal generator generates a basic cosine wave signal xp1 and a basic sine wave signal xp2 of the control frequency fp′. Adaptive filters and an adder generate a control signal Scp for canceling a driveline noise produced in a passenger compartment by the propeller shaft. A speaker outputs a canceling sound based on the control signal Scp into the passenger compartment. |
| US08111833B2 |
Method of reducing residual acoustic echo after echo suppression in a “hands free” device
The method comprises, in the time domain, echo cancellation processing (40) by subtracting from the microphone signal a reference signal delivered by an adaptive circuit for modeling the acoustic coupling between the microphone (18) and the loudspeaker (16). Successive frames of the signal are subjected in the frequency domain to processing (42) for suppressing the residual echo that remains after the echo cancellation, together with noise reduction processing (44). The residual echo suppression processing comprises estimating respective values for the power of the residual echo over a plurality of defined frequency bands for successive signal frames, then calculating and applying a variable gain specific to each frequency band and to each frame, the respective gains being smaller whenever the estimated relative power of the residual echo is high for the frequency band under consideration, and vice versa. For each frequency band and for each frame, the respective values of the power of the ambient noise present in the microphone signal are estimated a priori, and the relative levels of the power of the noise and of the power of the residual echo in the microphone signal are compared. The variable gain is a function of the estimated relative power of the residual echo when its level is greater than that of the noise, and otherwise of the estimated relative power of the noise. |
| US08111830B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide active audio matrix decoding based on the positions of speakers and a listener
An active audio matrix decoding method and apparatus to generate multi-channel audio signals from a stereo channel audio signal. The method includes extracting characteristics of a plurality of speaker signals and angles of each of a plurality of multi-channel speakers from arbitrary signals reproduced by the multi-channel speakers, decoding a stereo signal into a plurality of multi-channel signals and correcting the decoded multi-channel signals based on the extracted characteristics of each of the plurality of speaker signals, extracting a power vector of each of the decoded multi-channel signals by multiplying a magnitude of each of the decoded multi-channel signals by an angle of each multi-channel speaker and extracting a vector of a virtual sound source existing between a plurality of channels based on the power vector of each of the decoded multi-channel signals, extracting a vector value of a dominant sound image by linearly combining the extracted vectors of the virtual sound sources and normalizing a position of each multi-channel speaker with respect to the vector value of the dominant sound image to obtain a normalized position value, and distributing a gain value to the position of each multi-channel speaker by comparing a magnitude of a combined decoded multi-channel signal with the magnitude of each of the decoded multi-channel signals. |
| US08111829B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding stereo signal and multi-channel signal
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a stereo signal or a multi-channel signal. According to the method and apparatus, a stereo signal or a multi-channel signal can be encoded and/or decoded by generating parameters based on a mono signal. |
| US08111828B2 |
Management of cryptographic keys for securing stored data
A management system generates a sequence of keys and an identifier of each key in the sequence. A current key in the sequence and the identifier of the current key are transferred from the management system to a storage system. The storage system encrypts the data into encrypted data using the current key. The storage system stores the identifier and the encrypted data. The identifier and the encrypted data are retrieved from the storage system. The key in the sequence identified by the identifier is transferred from the management system to the storage system. The storage system decrypts the encrypted data using the decryption key. |
| US08111826B2 |
Apparatus for generating elliptic curve cryptographic parameter, apparatus for processing elliptic curve cryptograph, program for generating elliptic curve cryptographic parameter, and program for processing elliptic cyptograph
A prime number generation unit 110 generates an integer r having a form suitable for fast elliptic curve pairing computation, by using a processing device (S302 to S303). The prime number generation unit 110 judges whether the integer r is a prime number or not, by using the processing device (S304). When the integer r is a prime number, the prime number generation unit 110 judges whether the prime number r is a group order capable of easily changing the level of security or not, by using the processing device (S305). Thereby, it is possible to generate an elliptic curve parameter which is settable to an elliptic curve cryptographic processor that performs elliptic curve pairing computation using an algorithm capable of performing fast computation even by using a processing device with low computational capacity and which is capable of easily changing the level of security. |
| US08111824B2 |
Control circuit for controlling a DC supply voltage for a terminal
A control device for controlling a supply voltage which can be switched between a constant line current operation and a constant line voltage operation, wherein a line current, which consists of a direct current for supplying the terminal and of an alternating current for transmitting information, flows via a subscriber line of a terminal, comprising a sensing circuit for sensing an analogue input voltage dependent on the line current, a subtractor which, in the constant line current operation, subtracts an analogue feedback voltage dependent on an adjustable nominal direct-current value from the sensed input voltage for generating an analogue difference voltage, an analogue/digital converter for converting the generated analogue difference voltage into a digital difference voltage value, a digital low-pass filter for filtering a sequence of control error values out of the generated sequence of difference voltage values, a controller for generating a control value in dependence on the filtered-out sequence of control error values, and comprising a first digital/analogue converter which, in the constant line current operation, converts the control value in each case generated by the controller into the analogue direct voltage for supplying the terminal. |
| US08111821B2 |
Automated follow-up call in a telephone interaction system
A follow-up call to a user is made after completion of a first call with a voice user interface module operable on a computer. The voice user interface module inquiries about information communicated in the first call. |
| US08111819B2 |
Message server and method for notification of a user about the delivery of an electronic message
In one aspect, a message server for processing outgoing and incoming electronic messages is provided. The server includes a receiving facility, a transmission facility, an instruction, a checking facility, and a notification facility. The receiving facility receives the electronic messages, including a first electronic message and a second electronic message. The transmission facility sends the electronic messages including the first electronic message. The instruction is allocated to the first electronic message and includes information for sending a notification message. The checking facility checks the second electronic message to determine if the second electronic message is a reply message to the first electronic message. The notification facility sends the notification message in response to the receipt of the reply message. |
| US08111818B2 |
Method and system for processing calls by proxy
A method of processing a call by proxy in a network is provided. The method comprises: receiving a request from a first party for a proxy call on behalf of a second party at a first call control entity, whether or not an active call exists between the first and second parties; signaling the proxy call through the network; and establishing the proxy call to an appropriate destination, such as an emergency call center near the second party. |
| US08111817B2 |
Portable tele-homecare monitoring system and method for the same
A portable tele-homecare monitoring system and method for the same overcomes the problem of medical monitoring requiring a large organized system, with the associated high costs and disadvantages generated due to the large amount of equipment required by the prior art. The present invention allows a user to access home monitoring data by a portable electronic device, an application program or explorer via the Internet from a distributed data server. The portable tele-homecare monitoring system does not require a server and is designed to be modular and portable, so it costs are reduced and so that the design is flexible. |
| US08111816B2 |
Methods and systems for enabling return to same position in a review of messages in a voice mail system using tag or identifier stored in the voice mail system
Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in a voice mail system (VMS), to make a call or take some other action, and to return to the same position as occupied at the time of interruption in the review of messages in the VMS. In response to an indication from the subscriber's communication to leave the review, an identifier is created to mark the position of the subscriber's communication in the review. The identifier is stored in the VMS. The VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber's communication, the message including a copy of the identifier. The message may be a GR-1120 message including a remote operations (RO) parameter with the copy of the identifier. In response to the release message, a service control point (SCP) stores the copy of the identifier and causes whatever action is indicated in the message to be taken with respect to the subscriber's communication. In response to the receipt of the release message from a network element other than the VMS, the SCP routes the subscriber's communication including the copy of the identifier to the VMS. The VMS uses the copy of the identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber's communication in the same position occupied previously in the review. |
| US08111813B2 |
Unified greeting service for telecommunications events
A technique is disclosed that enables a telecommunications user to initially enter a greeting message in a single media format such as either voice or text. Subsequently, this greeting message is used by a server in response to any communication event that arrives for the user, such as a voice call or an email message, regardless of the media format of the arriving communication event. When the server receives arrival notifications of various communication events, it generates a customized greeting message in response to that event and in the same media format as the event itself. In other words, the server represents a previously-prepared outgoing voice or text message i) as a voice message in response to an incoming voice call and ii) as a textual message in response to an email, SMS text message, or instant message. |
| US08111812B2 |
Technique for emulating an instruction set in providing electronic messaging service through an information assistance provider
To facilitate managing his/her email through a Voice E-mail™ service, a user is allowed to select one or more sets of commands, with which he/she is familiar or prefers, to be emulated when the user interacts with the service. With this selection in place, when a user communicates with an information assistance provider to access the service, the user is identified and the email data and data concerning the selected commands associated with the user are retrieved. The user may then manage the email data using the selected commands during the service. |
| US08111810B2 |
Method for producing highly constrained ultrasound images
A highly constrained image processing method is used to improve the quality, including spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), of ultrasound image frames. Ultrasound image frames are accumulated to form a composite image that contains a priori information about the subject being imaged. This composite image is used in a HYPR processing method to improve the quality of the ultrasound image frame. For example, the SNR of the composite image is increased as a function of the number of ultrasound image frames used to produce it, and this increased SNR is passed on to each highly constrained image frame. Additionally, high spatial resolution ultrasound images are produced using an undersampled sampling density, and the quality of these images is restored to substantially the same level as a fully sampled image. |
| US08111808B1 |
X-ray explosive imager
A technique for use in security screening and detection contexts employs an X-ray explosive imager that acquires images from backscattered RF modulated X-ray signals on which a time series analysis is performed to detect image change across the time series of images that represent pixels changing at the rate of the difference frequency of the RF frequency and the a priori NQR signature frequencies. |
| US08111806B2 |
Charged particle beam therapy system having an X-ray imaging device
Therapy system (100) for irradiating a target volume (2) of a patient (1) with a charged particle beam (6), including a beam generator (3), a beam transport system (4), and a nozzle (5) for distributing the beam to the target volume (2), the nozzle (5) being, when in operation, under vacuum. The therapy system comprises an X-ray device (10) which is rotatably mounted inside the nozzle (5) between a first position and a second position. In the first position, an X-Ray source (12) within the X-Ray device is able to emit X-Rays along a charged particle beam path for generating an X-Ray image on a corresponding X-Ray receiving device (11) arranged opposite to the patient (1), said X-Ray image serving to determine a correct position of the target volume (2) with regard to the charged particle beam (6). In the second position, the X-Ray device (10) is set outside of a charged particle beam treatment path envelope (23), so that the charged particle beam (6) can reach and irradiate the target volume (2). |
| US08111801B2 |
Radioisotope production gas target having fin structure
A radioisotope production gas target for producing gas isotopes such as C-11. The radioisotope production gas target includes a target chamber that is in the shape of a hollow cylinder and has a plurality of inner fins protruding from an inner surface thereof along a length thereof, and a body that is shaped of a hollow cylinder enclosing the target chamber, and has a target gas inlet for feeding target gas to a hollow region of the target chamber, a target gas outlet for collecting the target gas after a nuclear reaction occurs, and a first coolant inlet and a first coolant outlet respectively feeding and discharging a coolant flowing along an outer surface of the target chamber, and includes a thin metal sheet in front thereof through which a beam of protons passes. |
| US08111798B2 |
Phase synchronization circuit and receiver having the same
A phase synchronization circuit includes a controlled oscillator configured to generate a first oscillation signal and a second oscillation signal that have a common frequency but different phase controlled by a combination of a first control signal and a second control signal, a digital phase frequency detector configured to detect a frequency difference and a first phase difference between a reference signal and the first oscillation signal to generate the first control signal, an analog phase detector configured to detect a second phase difference between the second oscillation signal and the reference signal to generate the second control signal, and a lock detection unit configured to detect a lock of the first oscillation signal with the reference signal in terms of frequency and phase, in order to set the analog phase detector in an active state. |
| US08111793B2 |
System and method for adjacent channel power detection and dynamic bandwidth filter control
A system for detecting and minimizing interference in a radio receiver includes a plurality of bandpass filters having different response characteristics, a power detector configured to compare a power output of a first bandpass filter and a second bandpass filter, and logic to cascade a third bandpass filter when the difference in power output between the power output of the first bandpass filter and the power output of the second bandpass filter exceeds a threshold amount. |
| US08111786B2 |
Signal converters
A signal converter. The signal converter converts an analog inphase signal and an analog quadrature phase signal into a digital baseband inphase signal and a digital baseband quadrature phase signal. The analog inphase signal and the analog quadrature phase signal are orthogonal to each other and are carried in a predetermined intermediate frequency. The digital baseband inphase signal and the digital baseband quadrature phase signal are carried in zero frequency. The signal converter comprises a signal combiner combining the analog inphase signal and the analog quadrature phase signal to obtain an analog combined signal, an analog to digital converter converting the analog combined signal to a digital combined signal, and a signal separator separating the digital combined signal to obtain the digital baseband inphase signal and the digital baseband quadrature phase signal. |
| US08111782B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a multi-antenna system, and system using the same
A data reception apparatus and method for generating and transmitting feedback information in a multi-antenna system using grouped antennas, and a data transmission apparatus and method for transmitting a data stream of a user according to a transmission mode selected depending on the feedback information is disclosed. The reception apparatus generates feedback information depending on maximum channel quality information, an antenna group index associated with the maximum channel quality information, rank information, and remaining channel quality information associated with the rank information, and transmits the feedback information to the transmission apparatus. The transmission apparatus selects one of a multi-user mode and a single-user mode as a transmission mode depending on the feedback information and transmits a data stream of a user via multiple antenna groups or one antenna group, according to the selected transmission mode. |
| US08111780B2 |
Codebook generating method and apparatus for generating a codebook for multi-polarized multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems
A communication apparatus and method include: selecting, as a precoding matrix, one of pre-stored at least one matrix Wi, where i is a natural number, and precoding a data stream desired to be transmitted based on the precoding matrix, wherein each diagonal block, among a plurality of blocks included in each of the at least one matrix Wi, includes a nonzero matrix, the nonzero matrix excluding a zero matrix, and wherein each remaining block among the plurality of blocks, excluding the diagonal blocks, includes the zero matrix. |
| US08111777B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for high-speed transmission on fiber optic channel
Multi-carrier modulation fiber optic systems constructed using a series of electrical carriers, modulating the data on the electrical carriers and combining the carriers to form a wideband signal. The wideband signal can then be intensity modulated on a laser and coupled to a fiber optic channel. A receiver may then receive the laser signal from the fiber optic channel and convert it into an electrical signal. Multi-carrier modulation may be applied to existing fiber channels, which may be of lower quality. Existing fiber channels may have characteristics which prevent or restrict the transmission of data using intensity modulation at certain frequencies. An adaptive multi-carrier modulation transmitter may characterize an existing fiber optic channel and ascertain the overall characteristics of the channel. The transmitter and receiver can then be configured to use various bandwidths and various modulations in order to match the transfer characteristic of the fiber channel. A series of adaptive multi-carrier modulation transmitters and receivers can be integrated on a single integrated circuit. If multiple adaptive receivers and transmitters are integrated on a single integrated circuit, they may be used to upgrade existing networks by adding different wavelength lasers for the transmission of data in order to achieve any capacity desired. Each receiver and transmitter may characterize the fiber for its particular wavelength laser and may configure the modulation and bandpass to the fiber's characteristics. |
| US08111776B1 |
Pulse insertion systems and methods for polar modulation
Systems and methods for bandwidth reduction in polar modulation systems are described. Detection of problematic signal transition paths may performed, and then, dependent on the signal path, a correction signal may be generated and added to the signal to improve system performance. In typical implementations, detection of problematic signal paths may be performed by determining whether the signal transitions through a particular region in the signal constellation, such as a region about the origin, or whether the signal instantaneous frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, and then responsively generating the correction signal. |
| US08111769B2 |
Transmissions with reduced code rate in 8VSB digital television
Procedures performed prior to convolutional interleaving of 8VSB digital television signals restrict the alphabet of symbols in novel methods of generating trellis-coded digital television signals that include more robust symbol coding using a restricted alphabet of symbols selected from a full 8VSB symbol alphabet consisting of −7, −5, −3, −1, +1, +3, +5 and +7 normalized modulation levels superposed on a background modulation level. Certain of these novel procedures generate pseudo-2VSB or P-2VSB robust symbol coding with a restricted alphabet of symbols consisting of −7, −5, +5 and +7 normalized modulation levels superposed on a background modulation level. Others of these novel procedures generate prescribed-coset-pattern-modulation or PCPM robust symbol coding intermixing two restricted alphabets of symbols according to a prescribed pattern. One of the two restricted alphabets of symbols used in PCPM consists of −3, −1, +5 and +7 normalized modulation levels superposed on a background modulation level. The other of the two restricted alphabets of symbols used in PCPM consists of −7, −5, +1 and +3 normalized modulation levels superposed on a background modulation level. |
| US08111763B2 |
Methods and systems for OFDM using code division multiplexing
In some embodiments of the invention, OFDM symbols are transmitted as a plurality of clusters. A cluster includes a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers in frequency, over a plurality of OFDM symbol durations in time. Each cluster includes data as well as pilot information as a reference signal for channel estimation. In some embodiments, a plurality of clusters collectively occupy the available sub-carrier set in the frequency domain that is used for transmission. In some embodiments of the invention data and/or pilots are spread within each cluster using code division multiplexing (CDM). In some embodiments pilots and data are separated by distributing data on a particular number of the plurality of OFDM symbol durations and pilots on a remainder of the OFDM symbol durations. CDM spreading can be performed in time and/or frequency directions. |
| US08111760B2 |
Deblocking filters
Deblock filtering for Microsoft WMV video decoders partitions the computation so that the deblock filtering operations can be performed on horizontal or vertical stripes or in one pass on oversized macroblocks. |
| US08111758B2 |
3D stereoscopic/multiview video processing system and its method
Disclosed is a stereoscopic/multiview three-dimensional video processing system and its method. In the present invention, stereoscopic/multiview three-dimensional video data having a plurality of images at the same time are coded into a plurality of elementary streams. The plural elementary streams output at the same time are multiplexed according to the user's selected display mode to generate a single elementary stream. After packetization of the single elementary stream continuously generated, information about the stereoscopic/multiview three-dimensional video multiplexing method and the selected display mode information are added to the packet header of the stream. Then the packetized elementary stream is sent to the image reproducer or stored in storage media. The present invention multiplexes the multi-channel elementary streams having the same temporal and spatial information, thereby minimizing the overlapping header information, and performs streaming of data suitable for the user's demand and the user system environments. |
| US08111756B2 |
Method for reducing computational complexity of video compression standard
A method for reducing computational complexity of video compression standard is provided, and it includes an intra 4×4 macroblock (I4MB) search algorithm, an intra 16×16 macroblock (I16MB) search algorithm and a chroma search algorithm. The I4MB search algorithm and I16MB search algorithm accelerate the prediction process of the luma macroblock, and the chroma search algorithm accelerates the prediction process of chroma macroblock. The above algorithms can greatly reduce the computation of prediction mode of video compression standard. |
| US08111750B2 |
System and method for 3-D recursive search motion estimation
A method for 3-D recursive search motion estimation is provided to estimate a motion vector for a current block in a current frame. The method includes the following steps. First, provide a spatial prediction by selecting at least one motion vector for at least one neighboring block in the current frame. Then, provide a temporal prediction. After that, estimate the motion vector for the current block based on the spatial prediction and the temporal prediction. The temporal prediction is obtained by selecting at least one most frequent motion vector from a plurality of motion vectors for a plurality of blocks in a corresponding region of a previous frame, wherein the corresponding block encloses a previous block which is location corresponding to the current block in the current frame. |
| US08111749B2 |
Image encoding or decoding method and device, with parallelization of processing over several processors and coprocessors, corresponding computer-readable storage medium
A method is proposed for encoding/decoding an image having rectangular blocks of pixels. The image has a height of H blocks and a width of W blocks and is divided into vertical (or horizontal) bands of blocks having the height of H (or width of W) blocks. The method includes: obtaining N processors and M coprocessors, the M coprocessors distributed over S levels, N>1, S>0 and M>S; assigning the N processors Pi to N contiguous bands BPi having sizes of Ki blocks, 0≦i≦N−1 and ∑ i = 0 N - 1 K i = W ; for every level of coprocessors s, 0≦s≦S−1, assigning Ms coprocessors CPs,j to Ms contiguous bands having sizes of Qs,j blocks, with: ∑ j = 0 M s - 1 Q s , j = W ; managing sending of first, second and third start messages, and first and second verification messages to the processors and coprocessors, according to a predetermined set of rules. |
| US08111748B2 |
Method and apparatus for video coding
In uniform superposition of two predictions toward a weighted superposition, such as in coding B frames, weighting is based on reliability of a reference picture used for determination of the prediction. Since there is a relationship between the reliability and the respective quantization parameter, coupling to the quantization parameter that is also known in the receiver also can be effected advantageously. |
| US08111743B2 |
Wireless transmitter
A wireless transmitter includes: a plurality of transmission antennas; and a phase rotating unit which adds phase rotation to signals which are respectively input to the plurality of transmission antennas, wherein the phase rotating units adds first phase rotation for controlling the maximum delay time between the plurality of transmission antennas and second phase rotation for controlling the phases of arbitrary antennas among the plurality of transmission antennas. |
| US08111740B2 |
Time-domain equalizer
The present invention provides a cost-effective TEQ hardware architecture to support multiple VDSL2 profiles. It supports variable TEQ tap length programmable through firmware. Larger TEQ tap length at low-speed profiles is supported by the unique design without adding additional multipliers. The maximum number of TEQ taps supported is actually inversely proportional to the profile frequency. This perfectly meets the requirement to have longer TEQ for low-speed profile and shorter TEQ for high-speed profile. |
| US08111738B2 |
Method and transceiver system having a transmit clock signal phase that is phase-locked with a receive clock signal phase
A transceiver system is disclosed that includes a plurality of transceiver chips. Each transceiver chip includes one or more SERDES cores. Each SERDES core includes one or more SERDES lanes. Each SERDES lane includes a receive channel and a transmit channel. The transmit channel of each SERDES lane is phase-locked with a corresponding receive channel. The transceiver system has the capability of phase-locking a transmit clock signal phase of a transmitting component with a receive clock signal phase of a receiving component that is a part of a different SERDES lane, a different SERDES core, a different substrate, or even a different board. Each SERDES core receives and transmits data to and from external components connected to the SERDES core, such as hard disk drives. A method of transferring data from a first external component coupled to a receive channel to a second external component coupled to a transmit channel is also disclosed. |
| US08111737B2 |
Bidirectional digital communication circuit and a bidirectional digital communication method
A bidirectional digital communication circuit and a bidirectional digital communication method for combining multi-channel signals to a duplex digital communication system apply time division multiplexing. The signals can be unidirectional and bidirectional; signals relationship is not necessary. The direction detector circuit determines signal directional automatically to avoid the signal loop. It's suitable for applying to fiber, cable or wireless communication system which is needed to minimize the communication channels. |
| US08111733B2 |
Method for generating a reference signal sequence using grouping
Method for generating reference signal sequence using grouping is explained. In this method, base sequences are grouped such that each group contains at least one base sequence of each length, so UE(s) can use various length sequences as a reference signal. And in this method, inter cell interference caused by using various length sequence as a reference signal sequence can be minimized by grouping sequences having the high cross correlation relation. |
| US08111729B2 |
Multi-wavelength hybrid silicon laser array
A multi-wavelength array of hybrid silicon lasers and a method of fabricating such a device. The method may include providing a silicon-on-insulator wafer; patterning waveguides in the silicon-on-insulator wafer; providing a III-V wafer comprising multiple layers; applying quantum well intermixing to obtain a plurality of regions of different bandgaps within the III-V wafer; and bonding the silicon on insulator wafer with the III-V wafer. |
| US08111723B2 |
Method of driving a laser diode
An ultrashort pulse/ultra-high power laser diode with a simple structure and configuration is provided. In a method of driving a laser diode, the laser diode is driven by a pulse current which is 10 or more times higher than a threshold current value. The width of the pulse current is preferably 10 nanoseconds or less, and the value of the pulse current is specifically 0.4 amperes or over. |
| US08111710B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving feedback corresponding to multicast broadcast service
The invention is directed to a method for receiving a feedback for at least a multicast broadcast service flow transmitting to a plurality of subscriber stations. The method comprises steps of assigning a plurality of code division multiple access (CDMA) codes to a feedback corresponding to the multicast broadcast service flow and then performing an allocation process for allocating a feedback channel for the subscriber stations. Thereafter, an announcement process is performed to announce a multiple feedback condition, the CDMA codes and the feedback channel to the subscriber stations. A channel monitoring process is performed for receiving a negative-acknowledgment (NACK)-based feedback sending from one of the subscriber stations unsatisfied with the multiple feedback condition and the NACK-based feedback is in a form of one of CDMA codes corresponding to the multicast broadcast service flow and is transmitted through the feedback channel. |
| US08111706B2 |
Premises gateway device
In a premises gateway device that performs encryption or decryption under the IPsec, the throughput of a processor is varied depending on a type of data to be treated in order to realize reduction in power consumption. In the premises gateway device to which a telephone, PCs, and a home appliance that are pieces of home network equipment are connected and which transmits or receives data using an ISP and an IPsec tunnel via an ONU, an OLT, and a carrier network, relevant home network equipment and a data rate are decided based on the data to be treated. The frequency of a clock to be fed to the processor is varied depending on the information. |
| US08111701B2 |
System and method for prioritizing and providing credits for data packet communication over a packet network
A system and method for prioritizing data packets being communicated over a packet network may include receiving a data packet at a network node. The data packet may include an origination network address, a destination network address, and a data field. A determination may be made as to whether at least one of the origination and destination network addresses is a priority network address. The data field of the data packet may be set to a priority value if at least one of the origination and destination network addresses is determined to be a priority network address. The data field of the data packet may be set to a non-priority value if both the origination and destination network addresses are determined not to be a priority network address. |
| US08111700B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing packet identification program, packet identification method, and packet identification device
A packet identification device has a reception unit that successively receives packets. The device has an obtaining unit that obtains, every time a packet is received, an interval of reception times between the received packet and a packet received immediately before the received packet, in the same connection as that of the received packet. The device has an identification unit that identifies the received packet as a packet containing a forefront segment of a plurality of segments constituting one message when the obtained reception time interval is higher than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08111697B1 |
Methods and apparatus for packet classification based on multiple conditions
In one embodiment, a method includes classifying a data packet received at a switch fabric, selecting an action descriptor in response to the classifying, and processing an action defined in the action descriptor. The classifying is based on a primary classification condition and first portion of the data packet. The action descriptor is associated with the primary classification condition. The processing includes determining whether a secondary classification condition is satisfied by a second portion of the data packet. |
| US08111694B2 |
Implicit signaling for split-toi for service guide
The invention provides an efficient transportation of ESG fragments to a mobile device through the formation of containers. In this sense, a container comprises at least one ESG fragment, but may contain a plurality of fragments. A fragment may be also carried in more than one container. Aspects of the present invention utilize a simple and extensible header structure apart from the fragments independent of the type and format of the individual fragments. In further embodiments, compression is applied over the entire container, including the fragments and any headers. In yet further embodiments, a 3GPP metadata envelope is carried within the container without the need for unnecessary repetition of parameters, such as for example, version, validity time, and identification. In further embodiments, a simplified container system allowing for the updating of previously received fragments is disclosed. |
| US08111691B2 |
Graceful network merge by performing a graceful transition of conflicting routing identifiers
Methods and apparatus for merging two or more networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first switch of a first network receives a second set of information including routing identifiers associated with a second network, wherein the first switch of the first network is connected to a second switch of the second network. The first switch of the first network transmits a first set of information including routing identifiers associated with the first network. The first switch determines whether a conflict exists between the second set of information and the first set of information. A conflicting one of the routing identifiers associated with the first or second network may be transitioned to a non-conflicting routing identifier according to the determination of whether a conflict exists between the first set of information and the second set of information, thereby enabling data to flow between the first network and the second network via a link between the first switch and the second switch. |
| US08111690B2 |
Routing traffic through a virtual router-based network switch
Methods and systems are provided for routing traffic through a virtual router-based network switch. According to one embodiment, a flow data structure is established that identifies current packet flows associated with multiple virtual routers in the virtual router-based network device. When an incoming packet is received by the virtual router-based network device, it is then determined whether the incoming packet is associated with a current packet flow by accessing the flow data structure based on a header associated with the incoming packet. If it is determined that the incoming packet is associated with the current packet flow, then the incoming packet is hardware forwarded via a network interface of the virtual router-based network device without intervention by a processor of the virtual router-based network device, otherwise the incoming packet is forwarded to software on the processor for flow learning. |
| US08111681B2 |
Wireless data communication method for a base station using a common pilot channel and an individual pilot channel
A wireless data-communication arrangements including a wireless terminal, located in a direction, receiving the pilot signal and determining a data rate according to reception quality of the pilot signal; the wireless terminal transmitting to a base station a signal for requesting the determined data rate; the base station receiving the signal and, based on the requested data rate, transmitting data to the wireless terminal with the radiation pattern, which includes the beam pattern in a same direction as the direction in which the pilot signal was transmitted, using a data channel of a second slot which is a predetermined number of slots after the first slot. |
| US08111675B2 |
Channel search method and system for vertical handoff in wireless network environment
A channel search method for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is provided, the channel search method including: collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a wireless local area network (WLAN) service via a channel connection with a WLAN node; and determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information. A channel search system for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is also provided, the channel search system including: a channel information collection unit for collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a WLAN service via a channel connection with a WLAN node and a search order determination unit for determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information. |
| US08111674B2 |
Maintaining network availability for wireless clients in a wireless local area network
In an example embodiment, there is described herein a technique that provides network availability to wireless clients (e.g. wireless clients running mission critical applications such as voice applications or medical devices) when a portions of a network is unavailable, such as when performing an image upgrade. One or more access points are switched to a standalone mode of operation, for example an AP that can operate using HREAP (Hybrid Remote Edge Access Point) mode, for maintaining network availability while a portion of the network is unavailable. |
| US08111673B2 |
Multicast delivery quality monitoring mechanism
The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for communicating information between two nodes, points or terminals in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein multicast diagnostic information is allowed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network. The two nodes, points or terminals may include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN. |
| US08111670B2 |
System and method for processing wireless high definition video data using remainder bytes
A method and system for processing high definition video data using remainder bytes is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an information packet having the length of L bytes, wherein L=(M×n×K)+A, and where: M is the depth of an interleaver, n is the number of interleavers, K is an encoding code length and A is the number of remainder bytes with respect to M×n×K bytes, wherein the remainder bytes are located at the end of the information packet, and wherein M×n×K bytes represent M×n codewords. The method further includes converting the A remainder bytes into a plurality of shortened codewords, wherein each of the shortened codewords is shorter in length than each of the M×n codewords. At least one embodiment of the invention provides much lower padding efficiency while improving the decoding performance. |
| US08111669B2 |
Parallel interference cancellation and minimum cost channel estimation
Methods and systems in a wireless receiver for enabling the reception of input signals at varied power levels in the presence of co-channel interference utilizing combinations of space-time adaptive processing (STAP), interference cancellation multi-user detection (MUD), and combined STAP/MUD techniques. In MUD, code, timing, and possibly channel information of multiple users are jointly used to better detect each individual user. The novel combination of adaptive signal reconstruction techniques with interference cancellation MUD techniques provides accurate temporal cancellation of interference with minimal interference residuals. Additional methods and systems extend adaptive signal reconstruction techniques to take Doppler spread into account. STAP techniques permit a wireless receiver to exploit multiple antenna elements to form beams in the direction of the desired signal and nulls in the direction of the interfering signals. The combined STAP-MUD methods and systems increase the probability of successful user detection by taking advantage of the benefits of each reception method. An additional method and system utilizes STAP techniques in the case where no pilot signal is available. This method compares the outputs of various hypothesized STAP solutions. |
| US08111668B2 |
Signaling methods for wireless communication systems
In a wireless communication system, there is a method of generating and transmitting signaling information from a user, where user control information may be appended as a header to a data block, and the data block and header may be encoded and transmitted as a signaling message from the user. In a method of scheduling a user for transmitting information, a signaling message, which may include user control information, is received from a user. A scheduling grant message that may include an allocated data rate may be transmitted in response to the received signaling message. The user control information may include one or more of buffer status information of the user, reverse pilot channel transmit power information and data related to a soft handoff (SHO) status of the user. |
| US08111666B2 |
Method and system for idle mode signaling reduction
A method and a system for idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) are provided. The method includes: obtaining ISR activation information of a source network, and setting an ISR status of an user equipment (UE) in a target network according to the obtained ISR activation information of the source network. Thus, the ISR status of the UE can be processed when the UE is handed over between networks. |
| US08111662B2 |
Method for mode adaptation in MIMO system
A mode adaptation method for performing mode switching between a single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) mode and a multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) mode includes reporting, by a base station, a MIMO feedback mode to a mobile station, receiving a feedback information determined on the basis of the MIMO feedback mode from the mobile station; and determining a MIMO feedback mode based on the feedback information. The MIMO feedback mode indicates whether it is single-user MIMO or multi-user MIMO and includes a number of mobile stations (MSs) transferred at one time. As a result, the method maximizes a system throughput simultaneously while effectively reducing an amount of feedback information. |
| US08111661B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing clear channel assessment function in multi-band OFDM system
A clear channel assessment CCA method implemented in a multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the method including: estimating an energy of a received signal in each window at predetermined intervals of two moving-average windows; detecting a peak value according to a difference of energies estimated in relation to the two moving-average windows, and accumulating a number of detected peak values; and reporting a channel status to a medium access control (MAC) according to the number of the accumulated peak values. |
| US08111659B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient bandwidth utilization for subscriber unit initialization and synchronization in a time-synchronized communication system
A bandwidth efficient subscriber unit initialization and synchronization method and apparatus is described. The inventive subscriber unit initialization and synchronization method and apparatus uses a combination of an access burst format and a data transportation technique to efficiently use bandwidth when initializing and synchronizing subscriber units in a time-synchronized communication system. Advantageously, the present invention provides a mechanism for a base station to receive multiple access bursts from multiple subscriber units in a single contiguous time period. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, bandwidth is efficiently utilized by searching for multiple initial access bursts from multiple mobile stations during a single time period known as a new access opportunity. The preferred embodiment of the present invention initializes and synchronizes subscriber units in a “contention-based” manner. |
| US08111654B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video having acknowledgement (ACK) frames
A wireless communication system and method for wireless communication are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a wireless communication device. The device includes a receiver configured to receive a data packet via a channel. The device further includes a transmitter configured to send an acknowledgment (ACK) signal via a low-rate channel upon receiving the data packet. The low-rate channel has a directional mode and an omni-directional mode. The acknowledgment signal includes a low-rate physical layer (LRP) preamble and an acknowledgment (ACK) header including a mode index field. The mode index field includes a plurality of bits indicative of whether the ACK signal is transmitted using the directional mode or the omni-directional mode. |
| US08111653B2 |
Wireless transmission system having reduced interference
In the present invention, a wireless transmission system includes a plurality of mobile stations in a cell area, and a base station. The base station divides each of an uplink frame and a downlink frame into a plurality of blocks, assigns a specific one of the plurality of blocks to each of the plurality of the mobile stations, assigns a specific frequency channel to the mobile station, and notifies the specific block and the specific frequency channel to the mobile station. The length of each of the plurality of blocks is optional, and a sum of the lengths of the plurality of blocks is equal to the length of the frame. |
| US08111652B2 |
Base station, radio communication system, and communication method
A base station comprises a packet classification unit configured to classify packets received/transmitted from/to a plurality of mobile stations into a quantitative guarantee type packet having a request value for communication quality or a relative guarantee type packet not having the request value, and a transmission order controller configured to control a transmission order of the packets for every classified quantitative guarantee type packet and every classified relative guarantee type packet. |
| US08111651B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating deterministic network routing
In a wireless network that includes a plurality of nodes, a method of maintaining, by a first node, information regarding communications links between nodes in the wireless network includes: for each communications link that is established with another node, recording an identification of the other node; and for each message received by the first node from the other node through the communications link with the other node, recording a network pathway by which the message has been sent in the wireless network, the network pathway identifying the nodes and the communications links therebetween by which the message has been sent. Another method includes recording, by a server, for each message that is received by the server from the wireless network, a network pathway by which the message has been sent, the network pathway identifying the nodes and the communications links therebetween by which the message has been sent. |
| US08111648B2 |
Heterogeneous MAC protocol for forwarding VoIP traffic on wireless networks
This disclosure describes a new Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol that combines contention-free and contention-based MAC protocols into a heterogeneous MAC protocol used for forwarding VoIP traffic in VoIP systems on wireless networks which addresses the need to transport high bit-rate data to multiple users over wired and wireless means. |
| US08111643B2 |
Communication control method of wireless LAN system and relay apparatus
A relay apparatus (100) acting as an access point of wireless LAN watches a packet showing a request of starting communication among the packets to be relayed between terminal apparatuses (101,102) and records the identification information of the terminal apparatus included in the packet. When the number of the terminal apparatuses whose identification information is recorded exceeds a preset upper limit value, the relay apparatus disconnects a communication relating to the latest identification information by transmitting a disconnection command or discarding the packet. With this arrangement, deterioration of streaming communication controlled by an access point (AP) of wireless LAN can be prevented. |
| US08111635B2 |
Server, terminal, and method for supporting mobility
A server, terminal, and method for supporting mobility in a network are provided. A server includes a storage which stores a double chord lookup table including server search information based on identifiers and location information of terminals on a network, a controller which finds a server for providing an optimal routing path between a receiving terminal and a transmitting terminal for sending a packet to the receiving terminal, using the double chord lookup table, where a trigger including an identifier and location information for identifying the receiving terminal is received from the receiving terminal, and a communicator which reports the location of the found server to the receiving terminal and the transmitting terminal. |
| US08111629B2 |
Media session identification method for IP networks
A method of allocating, restricting or refusing communication resources to media sessions in accordance with individual session or session type, comprises: categorizing passing packets using packet traffic characteristics such as packet length or inter-arrival period; grouping together those packets having similar traffic characteristics, and analyzing the grouped packets for session characteristics, thereby to identify a session type and allocate resources to the session or provisioning or like actions or services. |
| US08111628B2 |
Method for measuring different frequencies/systems in MBMS and a device for setting measuring time
A method for measuring Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT (Radio Access Technology) in Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) includes: setting an Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time to prevent Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time from overlapping constantly the transmission time of MCCH information; performing Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement by a UE according to the Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time. In the present invention, the Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time can be prevented from overlapping constantly the time when UTRAN transmits the MCCH information, so that the problem that the UE cannot receive MCCH information during Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement time may be solved. In the invention, a measurement time setting device is also provided for implementing Inter-Frequency/Inter-RAT measurement in Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service. |
| US08111627B2 |
Discovering configured tunnels between nodes on a path in a data communications network
An apparatus and method are described for discovering a configured tunnel between nodes on a path in a data communications network. In an embodiment, an apparatus is arranged to remotely access at least one node on the path, identify whether a tunnel is configured on the access node and, if so, identify whether the identified tunnel has a fault. |
| US08111624B2 |
Link adaptation telecommunication system
The invention relates to a wireless telecommunication system including a transmitter and a receiver, said transmitter being used to transmit data packets to the receiver, said receiver including error detection means (220) in order to detect if a received packet contains errors, and further comprising means of outage detection (225) in order to determine, in the event an error packet is detected, if the transmission channel between the transmitter and the receiver is in an outage situation and in order to transmit a first (OUTAGE) signal indicating this situation, the transmitter being used to modify the conditions of transmission in response to said first signal. |
| US08111623B2 |
Node, method and system for control of communication including a buffer
A node configured to communicate with at least one further node. The node includes a buffer configured to receive data transmitted from the at least one further node. The node also includes an output configured to transmit data to the at least one further network element. The data includes information about the ability for the buffer to receive further data transmitted from the further node. |
| US08111622B2 |
Signal routing dependent on a node speed change prediction
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for determining a node-speed-change-prediction-dependent signal route and routing wireless data along the determined node-speed-change-prediction-dependent signal route. |
| US08111618B2 |
End-to-end service quality using source-routed probes
The need to monitor real time network services has prompted service providers to use new measurement technologies, such as service-specific probes. A service-specific probe is an active probe that closely mimics the service traffic so that it receives the same treatment from the network as the actual service traffic. Service-specific probes are end-to-end and their deployment depends on solutions that address questions such as minimizing probe traffic, while still obtaining maximum coverage of all the links in the network. A polynomial-time probe-path computation algorithm is provided as well as a 2-approximate solution for merging probe paths when the number of probes exceeds a required bound k. The algorithms are evaluated using ISP topologies generated via Rocketfuel. For most topologies, it is possible to cover more than about 98% of the edges using just about 5% of the nodes as terminals. |
| US08111617B2 |
Multiple independent pathway communications
A system and method for utilizing multiple independent communication pathways for communication. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a first signal directly from a first communication network, where the first signal communicates a unit of information. A second signal may be received from a second communication network, where the second signal communicates the unit of information. The received first and second signals may be processed to determine the unit of information. For example, respective indications of reliability may be determined and utilized to select between the units of information determined from the first and second signals. Also for example, such indications of reliability may be utilized to calculate the unit of information (e.g., based on a weighted averaging technique). Also for example, the unit of information determined from the first signal may be utilized to determine the unit of information from the second signal. |
| US08111615B2 |
Dynamic update of route table
A method and apparatus for dynamically modifying routing information in an interconnect architecture without quiescence is herein described. Each agent/node holds routing information regarding target agents/nodes in an interconnect architecture, which may include routing preferences. When a node is to be hot removed, it generates port disable messages to neighbors. The neighbors disable a port the disable message is received on and generates a completion message back to the not to be removed. The node to be removed continues to route messages until it receives a completion; at which time it disables a corresponding node. When all nodes are disabled the device may be removed. Other nodes in the interconnect architecture learn of an agent removal through use of return cycles when messages reach dead ends during attempted routing of cycles. Furthermore, hot addition of a node includes broadcasting of an enable message to enable nodes for routing to the added node. |
| US08111608B2 |
Radio-communication device and radio-communication method
A radio-communication device performs processing in a communication environment in which an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation method is used. The radio-communication device includes a signal-reception unit that receives a MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) signal, a data-decoding unit that decodes the MIMO signal, and a data-processing unit that processes data decoded by the data-decoding unit. The radio-communication device also includes a format-determination unit that determines, based on a relative phase difference between a previous packet field and a subsequent packet field adjacent to the previous packet field, a packet format of the MIMO signal. Further, the radio-communication device includes a control unit that stops an operation of the data-decoding unit when the data-processing unit does not support the packet format, which is determined by the format-determination unit. The operation is performed in a field that comes after a field at which the format-determination unit determines the packet format. |
| US08111601B2 |
Method of forming visual image on optical disk by laser beam
A method is designed for forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disk to form pits. The optical disk is normally capable of recording information on the surface thereof by the optical writing process. The method is carried out by the steps of acquiring image formation information associated to a visual image to be formed, forming the visual image on the surface of the optical disk based on the acquired image formation information by using the optical writing process, and recording the image formation information together with the formed visual image on the surface of the same optical disk. The image formation information contains start address information specifying a position of the surface of the optical disk to start the optical writing process for forming the visual image, stop address information specifying another position to stop the optical writing process, and pattern information specifying a pattern of irradiating the laser beam during the optical writing process. |
| US08111600B2 |
Method of vertical deviation disc detection
A method for detecting whether vertical deviation of an optical disc occurs is provided. First, before a pickup head is successfully focused on the optical disc, a pickup head is actuated based on an input control signal so as to generate a focus error signal with a plurality of S-curves. Then, a plurality of zero crossing points of the S-curves in the focus error signal is identified and a plurality of input control values respectively corresponding to the zero crossing points is obtained. A variation of the input control values is then calculated. Whether vertical deviation of the optical disc occurs can be determined according to the variation of the input control values. |
| US08111597B2 |
Data recording apparatus
When a blank DVD-RW disk is loaded into an optical disk drive, a host computer issues a FORMAT command to the disk drive. The optical disk drive having received the command performs quick formatting pursuant to a standard. Subsequently, the host computer issues a WRITE command to the optical disk drive in an idle time thereof, thereby instructing recording of dummy data. Consequently, an advantage analogous to that yielded as a result of background formatting of a DVD+RW disk is yielded, and the entirety of the DVD-RW disk can be formatted readily. |
| US08111596B2 |
Phase error detection apparatus
A phase error detection apparatus capable of performing offset correction of a tracking error signal accurately even when there is a defect or a non-recorded position on an optical disc. There are provided a phase difference detection circuit (107) which receives two sequences of digital signals, performs phase comparison using a distance between zerocross points of the two sequences of digital signals, and outputs a phase comparison result PCR and a phase comparison completion signal PCC, and an offset control circuit (11) which outputs an offset correction amount for each phase comparison completion signal PCC from the phase difference detection circuit (107), and the offset correction amount Δα is added to the phase comparison result PCR to avoid offset correction in a position where phase comparison is not carried out. |
| US08111595B2 |
Optical disk recording and playback apparatus and signal detection method utilizing a differential push-pull method and a phase difference method
An optical disc recording and playback apparatus includes an optical pickup performing an operation for recording and playing back signal information into and from an optical disc; an optical element allowing a light beam irradiated onto an optical disc by the optical pickup to be split into a main beam and sub-beams on both sides of the main beam and supplying the beams to the optical disc; an optical detector detecting return light from the optical disc; and a computation circuit detecting a track control error signal by a phase difference method and a differential push-pull method by using the detection signal from the optical detector and also detecting a wobble signal. |
| US08111587B2 |
Watch with calendar mechanism equipped with month indicator and date indicator
The present invention aims to provide a watch with a calendar mechanism which allows a reduction in the thickness of a date feeding mechanism and a month feeding mechanism. In a watch with a calendar mechanism according to the present invention, a date indicator includes a month end tooth for driving a month feeding lever at the end of a month and feeding the date indicator at the end of a shorter month. A month indicator includes a month cam for operating a shorter month end feeding lever at the end of a shorter month. The shorter month end feeding lever can feed the date indicator by one day based on the rotation of a date indicator driving wheel and the rotation of the month cam. The month feeding lever moves toward the month indicator at the end of a month based on the rotation of the date indicator, and can feed the month indicator by one month. |
| US08111585B1 |
Underwater acoustic transducer array and sound field shaping system
A sonar system includes an objective having reflecting surface(s) with coincident forward radiant axes. Each of the reflecting surfaces defines sets of equivalent acoustic output/receiving locations allowing the use of a plurality of transducers with each reflecting surface. When used in a projection mode, and depending upon the frequency radiated, the sound sources may function as a distributed, functionally continuous sound source. In a passive mode use of a field reflector allows determination of bearings. |
| US08111581B1 |
Monitoring system for a ship'S radiated noise
A ship's radiated noise monitoring system includes a plurality of arrays of spaced vibration-responsive detectors, the arrays being adapted for location adjacent to the ship's hull in the region of possible noise sources; summing amplifiers for receiving the detectors output signals from respective arrays and providing output signals representative of the average vibration signals received by each array; an analyzer connected to the output of each summing amplifier to perform a spectrum analysis; and computer apparatus to receive the noise spectrum from each array, apply respective weighting factors to the noise spectra and combine the weighted noise spectra to produce a predicted radiated noise spectrum. Preferably each array comprises a regular distritution of nine accelerometers attached to hull frames in groups of three. The system is used in conjunction with sonar equipment to enable self-noise to be monitored to optimise the sonar performance. |
| US08111578B2 |
Memory devices having redundant arrays for repair
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a memory device. One such memory device includes a memory array including a sub-array that includes a first number of columns of memory cells, and one or more global input/output (I/O) lines shared by the first number of columns for data transmission. The memory device also includes one or more multiplexers/demultiplexers, wherein each of the multiplexers/demultiplexers is electrically coupled to one or more, but not all, of the global I/O lines. The memory device further includes a plurality of local I/O lines, each configured to provide a data path between one of the multiplexers/demultiplexers and one or more, but less than the first number, of the columns in the sub-array. This configuration allows local I/O line repairability with fewer redundant elements, and shorter physical local I/O lines, which translate to improved speed and die size reduction. |
| US08111577B2 |
System comprising a state-monitoring memory element
Embodiments of the invention relate to a state-monitoring memory element. The state-monitoring memory element may have a reduced ability to retain a logic state than other regular memory elements on an IC. Thus, if the state-monitoring memory elements fails or loses state during testing, it may be a good indicator that the IC's state retention may be in jeopardy, possibly requiring the IC to be reset. The state-monitoring memory element may be implemented by degrading an input voltage supply to the state-monitoring memory element across a diode and/or a transistor. One or more current sources may be used to stress the state-monitoring memory element. A logic analyzer may be used to analyze the integrity of the state-monitoring memory element and trigger appropriate actions in the IC, e.g., reset, halt, remove power, interrupt, responsive to detecting a failure in the state-monitoring memory element. Multiple state-monitoring memory elements may be distributed in different locations on the IC for better coverage. |
| US08111576B2 |
High-voltage sawtooth current driving circuit and memory device including same
A high-voltage sawtooth current driving circuit and a memory device including the same are described. In the high-voltage sawtooth current driving circuit includes a charge pump circuit configured to output a first voltage, a regulating circuit configured to regulate a second voltage using the first voltage output from the charge pump circuit, and a sawtooth current driver configured to generate a sawtooth current in response to the second voltage regulated by the regulating circuit. |
| US08111573B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of controlling the same
Provided is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of performing a writing action for a memory cell at high speed. The device includes a memory cell array having a first sub-bank and a second sub-bank each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells arranged in a form of a matrix; a row decoder shared by the first sub-bank and the second sub-bank; a first column decoder and a second column decoder provided in the first sub-bank and the second sub-bank, respectively; and a control circuit arranged to execute alternately a first action cycle to perform a programming action in the first sub-bank and a reading action for a programming verifying action in the second sub-bank and a second action cycle to perform the reading action for the programming verifying action in the first sub-bank and the programming action in the second sub-bank. |
| US08111571B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines intersecting the word lines, a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cell each provided at an intersection of the word line and the bit line, a plurality of sense amplifier each of which detects and amplifies a signal level of the bit line, a replica word line, a replica bit line intersecting the replica word line, a replica memory cell provided at each intersection of the replica word line and the replica bit line, a replica circuit which simulates reading out of the memory cell, and a timing generating circuit which quantizes a replica delay time that is a time until the replica bit line changes from a reference timing, and which generates an activation timing for the sense amplifier based on a quantization result. |
| US08111570B2 |
Devices and methods for a threshold voltage difference compensated sense amplifier
Embodiments are described for a voltage compensated sense amplifier. One such sense amplifier includes a pair of digit line nodes respectively coupled to a pair of transistors. A first pair of switches are adapted to cross-couple the gates of the transistors to the respective digit line node and a second pair of switches are adapted to couple the gates of the transistors to a voltage supply. The first and second pair of switches are coupled to respective gates of the transistors independent of the pair of transistors being respectively coupled to the digit line nodes. |
| US08111568B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having bit test circuit with ignore function
A semiconductor memory device including a bit test circuit with an ignore function is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a bit test circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells. The bit test circuit is configured to perform a parallel bit test to determine defective memory cells based on bits received from the plurality of memory cells, a tester signal for each of the plurality of memory cells, and a mode register set signal for each of the plurality of memory cells. The bit test circuit is also configured to output a non-defective pass signal for at least one of the plurality of memory cells based on at least one of the at least one bit received from the at least one memory cell, the tester signal for the at least one memory cell and the mode register set signal for the at least one memory cell. |
| US08111563B2 |
Multi-level nonvolatile memory device with fast execution of program speed and programming method of the same
A nonvolatile memory device having a plurality of multi-level memory cells, the plurality being at least two, may be programmed by writing a least significant bit for each multi-level memory cell of the plurality of memory cells and, after the least significant bit has been written for each multi-level memory cell of the plurality of memory cells, writing a next significant bit for each multi-level memory cell. |
| US08111554B2 |
Starting program voltage shift with cycling of non-volatile memory
A system is disclosed for programming non-volatile storage that improves performance by setting the starting programming voltage to a first level for fresh parts and adjusting the starting programming voltage as the memory is cycled. For example, the system programs a set of non-volatile storage elements during a first period using an increasing program signal with a first initial value and subsequently programs the set of non-volatile storage elements during a second period using an increasing program signal with a second initial value, where the second period is subsequent to the first period and the second initial value is different than the first initial value. |
| US08111553B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which program disturb is reduced and method of programming the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of reducing program disturb and a method of programming the same are provided. A bit line connected to a non-selected memory cell in the same block as a selected memory cell enters a floating state by inactivating a bit line selection switch, so that voltage levels of an first conductivity type channel and a source/drain terminal formed in a pocket second conductivity type well below a memory transistor have an intermediate level of a voltage level of a selection line and the pocket P type well. Therefore, program disturb caused by FN tunneling and junction hot electrons can be inhibited. |
| US08111543B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
An SRAM cell includes one pair of drive transistors, one pair of load transistors, one pair of write access transistors, one pair of read drive transistors, and one pair of access transistors. A voltage source potential is supplied to drains of the read drive transistors. |
| US08111542B2 |
8T low leakage SRAM cell
This invention discloses a static random access memory (SRAM) cell comprising a pair of cross-coupled inverters having a storage node, and a NMOS transistor having a gate terminal, a first and a second source/drain terminal connected to the storage node, a read word-line (RWL) and a read bit-line (RBL), respectively, the RWL and RBL being activated during a read operation and not being activated during any write operation. |
| US08111539B2 |
Smart detection circuit for writing to non-volatile storage
A memory system includes a substrate, control circuitry on the substrate, a three dimensional memory array (above the substrate) that includes a plurality of memory cells with reversible resistance-switching elements, and a circuit for detecting the setting and resetting of the reversible resistance-switching elements. |
| US08111535B2 |
Presetable RAM
A programmable volatile memory cell has a reset device in communication with a bit store. The reset device may produce a high or low logic state within a latch loop when activated by an assertive logic level on a reset line. A set of mask programmable vias may be provided on a single mask layer in a semiconductor fabrication process for the memory cell. A program-selectable one of two sets of vias may communicate with one reset device to the reset line and the other reset device to ground. In this way a single and programmatically determinable logic state may be produced in the memory cell with reset signaling. Otherwise, the memory cell is capable of retaining a logic state according to read/write processes. The memory cell may be implemented in an array where all or some of the cells may be reset at once. |
| US08111534B2 |
Rank select using a global select pin
Methods, memory devices, and systems are disclosed, such as those for accessing a memory circuit through the use of reduced external pins. With one such system, a single external pin receives a global memory select signal which transmits an access signal for one of a plurality of memory circuits in a system. The memory circuits may be stacked and may also be ranked memory circuits. The global memory select signal may be sent to a counter. Such a counter could count the length of time that the global memory select signal is active, and based on the counting, sends a count signal to a comparator. The comparator may compare the count signal with a programmed value to determine if a specific memory chip and/or port is to be accessed. This configuration may be duplicated over multiple ports on the same memory device, as well as across multiple memory ranks. |
| US08111533B2 |
System for dynamically managing power consumption in a search engine
The power consumption of a search engine such as a CAM device is dynamically adjusted to prevent performance degradation and/or damage resulting from overheating. For some embodiments, the CAM device is continuously sampled to generate sampling signals indicating the number of active states and number of compare operations performed during each sampling period. The sampling signals are accumulated to generate an estimated device power profile, which is compared with reference values corresponding to predetermined power levels to generate a dynamic power control signal indicating predicted increases in the device's operating temperature resulting from its power consumption. The dynamic power control signal is then used to selectively reduce the input data rate of the CAM device, thereby reducing power consumption and allowing the device to cool. |
| US08111521B2 |
Package-based filtering and matching solutions
A microelectronic package having a radio frequency (RF) amplifier circuit and, incorporating harmonic rejection filters and matching circuits integrally formed in the package is disclosed. A harmonic rejection filter may comprise a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor serially coupled between bond pads disposed on a RF amplifier circuit die, a first wire bond coupling a first bond pad to a package output, where the first bond pad is coupled to the output of the RF amplifier, and a second wire bond coupling a second bond pad to a package ground. The harmonic rejection filter may be appropriately configured to filter one or more harmonics at different frequencies. |
| US08111518B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device. The electronic device comprises housing, a positioning member and a circuit board. The positioning member, disposed on the housing, comprises a first protruding portion. The circuit board engages with the positioning member. The first protruding portion is a resilient member contacting with the circuit board to constrain the circuit board between the first protruding portion and the housing by an elastic force. |
| US08111508B2 |
Hinge and foldable computing device using the same
A hinge for rotatably connecting a lid to a base includes a first fixing member for being fixed to the lid, a second fixing member for being fixed to the base, a hollow member, and an axle member. The hollow member defines a chamber having a lateral surface. A protrusion protrudes from the lateral surface. The axle member includes a protruding wall received in the chamber, a first end and a second end extending out of the chamber, the first end is fixed to the first fixing member. The second end is rotatably connected to the second fixing member. The protruding wall cooperates with the protrusion to divide the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. |
| US08111507B2 |
Adjustment module
An adjustment module includes a frame, a sliding member, at least one coiled spring, a pair of guide rails, and a supporting member. The frame includes a main plate. The at least one coiled spring includes an extending portion and a sleeved coiled portion. The guide rails are positioned on opposite sides of the frame. The supporting member is fixed on the frame and has at least one supporting surface. The sliding member is slidably positioned between the guide rails. The coiled portion of the at least one coiled spring is positioned on the at least one supporting surface. An end of the extending portion of the at least one coiled spring is fixed on the sliding member, and an axis of the coiled portion of the at least one coiled spring is substantially perpendicular to the main plate. |
| US08111497B2 |
Device for electrically discharging samples of an electrically non conductive liquid
A device 10 for electrically discharging samples of an electrically non-conductive liquid includes an electrically conductive outer member 12, an electrically conductive inner member 14 disposed within the outer member 12, an electrically conductive rod 16 with upper and lower plugs 18 and 19 secured thereto to maintain a non-conductive fluid in the device 10, non-conductive handles 20 and 22 secured to the outer and inner members 12 and 14, and an electrically conductive ground cable 26 detachably secured to the rod 16 to ultimately remove or reduce static charge in the electrically non-conductive liquid via the liquid engaging the outer member 12, inner member 14 and rod 16, which are electrically grounded via the cable 26. |
| US08111493B2 |
Current limit detector
Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. One approach to improving resolution and accuracy of current limit detectors using a single resistive device is to magnify the operating current range. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting pre-programmed current limits. |
| US08111491B2 |
Overvoltage protection circuit
An overvoltage protection circuit includes an output transistor coupled between a power supply and an output terminal, the output terminal including a terminal for being coupled to a load and a dynamic clamping circuit and a clamp selection transistor coupled in series between the power supply terminal and a control terminal of the output transistor. The clamp selection transistor is coupled between the dynamic clamping circuit and a control terminal of the output transistor. In addition, the clamp selector transistor includes an N-channel type transistor, a control terminal of the N-channel type transistor being coupled to a ground potential. |
| US08111486B2 |
Head gimbals assembly of hard disk and method of assembling thereof
A head gimbals assembly for a hard disk for use in a thermally assisted magnetic disk recording medium, in which a laser diode is applied so as to record information with high density. The head gimbals assembly for a hard disk having a plurality of suspensions, each of which is provided with a magnetic head positioned adjacent to a corresponding disk surface among the disks so as to record/reproduce information; a head gimbals body having a centrally formed pivot hole which allows the head gimbals body to be fitted in such a manner as to be rotatable in relation to the disks, the suspensions extending from one end of the head gimbals body; a coil rotator provided at the other end of the head gimbals body so as to rotate the head gimbals body about the pivot hole; and a laser assembly having one or more laser diodes and one or more wave guides, the light emitted from any of the laser diodes is guided to a corresponding magnetic head by the wave guides. |
| US08111485B2 |
Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing
An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a flexible circuit assembly and a sensor. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature and a turnaround feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable has a service loop portion, a mounting portion coupled to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion coupled to the turnaround feature of the stiffener. The turnaround portion is configured to couple the mounting portion to the service loop portion. The sensor is in contact with a surface of the arm and is electrically coupled to the flexible cable. |
| US08111483B2 |
Disk drive flexure
A first conductor member includes an amplifier-side first conductor, a head-side first conductor, and first and second interleaved conductors. A second conductor member includes an amplifier-side second conductor, a head-side second conductor, and third and fourth interleave conductors. The second interleaved conductor is connected to the amplifier-side first conductor through a first jumper conductor. The fourth interleave conductor is connected to the head-side second conductor through a second jumper conductor. The jumper conductors are formed by partially etching a metal base. The jumper conductors are individually inclined at angles of 45° or less to an axis which extends in a wiring direction of each of the interleaved conductors. |
| US08111479B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head having a notched trailing shield
A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic data recording having a trailing shield with a two step throat height. The trailing shield is formed over a non-magnetic bump that forms a notch in the leading edge of the trailing shield. This notch defines a first, smaller throat height closest to the write pole and a larger throat height away from the write pole. The smaller throat height near the write pole prevents excess magnetic flux from leaking to the write pole, thereby ensuring efficient strong write field. The larger trailing shield throat height away from the write pole prevents magnetic saturation of the trailing shield and also greatly facilitates manufacturing avoiding problems related to variations and deviations in manufacturing processes used to define the trailing shield. |
| US08111478B2 |
Reducing a spreading of contaminants within a hard disk drive
Reducing a spreading of contaminants within a hard disk drive is described. An adhesive is applied to a first side of a desiccant. Then, the desiccant is utilized to cover a component of a hard disk drive, the component comprising a countersink area surrounding a fastener, wherein said fastener is countersunk within the component. The adhesive is then coupled with the component to encapsulate contaminants lying within the countersink area, thereby reducing a spreading of the contaminants within the hard disk drive. |
| US08111476B2 |
Disk drive spin control
A disk drive configured to control spindle spin is provided. The disk drive includes a spindle motor for spinning a disk configured for storing data, a nonvolatile memory comprising instructions associated with a first process for spin-up of the spindle motor from a power-on mode and the nonvolatile memory comprising instructions associated with a second process for spin-up of the spindle motor from a power save mode, a controller for determining which of the first or the second process for spin-up of the spindle motor to implement in accordance with the instructions stored in the nonvolatile memory and a motor driver for spinning up the spindle motor according to the first process or according to the second process for spin-up of the spindle motor. |
| US08111475B2 |
Magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium to which a signal is recorded by reversing magnetization of a magnetic body, includes: a servo region to which a servo signal is written; a data region configured to include a magnetic region of a track to which data is written, the magnetic region being separated from other magnetic region of other track; and a periodic magnetic pattern region configured to be provided at a head portion of the data region following the servo region, and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a circumferential direction of the magnetic recording medium, over a predetermined length in a radius direction of the magnetic recording medium. |
| US08111473B2 |
Method to evaluate a data storage device using magnetic spacing losses
A method of evaluating the performance of a magnetic recording system, comprising measuring a first set of finite impulse response filter tap values at time t1, measuring a second set of finite impulse response filter tap values are measured at time t2, where time t2 is subsequent to time t1, and calculating an actual loss parameter using the first set of tap values and the second set of tap values. The method then compares the actual loss parameter with a total effective loss threshold. |
| US08111470B2 |
Composite lens and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a composite lens and a method for manufacturing the same, particularly to a composite lens in which a second lens component is coupled to a first lens component at part of a first surface, and intends to improve optical characteristics. A composite lens (1) has a first lens component (10) and a second lens component (20). The first lens component (10) has a first surface including a first lens surface (13), a peripheral surface (15a) surrounding the first lens surface (13) and a ring surface (17a) included in the peripheral surface (15a) and surrounding the first lens surface (13), and a second lens surface (12) on the opposite side of the first lens surface (13). The second lens component (20) is coupled to the first lens component (10) at part of the first surface surrounded by the ring surface (17a). The ring surface (17a) is positioned on a portion of the first lens component protruding from a joint portion (14) between the first lens surface (13) and the peripheral surface (15a) in a first direction from the second lens surface (20) to the first lens surface (10) along an optical axis of the first lens component (10) and is exposed out of the second lens component (20). |
| US08111469B2 |
Combined gear, lens adjustment mechanism, and electronic device
A combined gear includes a pair of first gear and second gear having the same tooth profile and rotatably combined in a state, wherein rotation centers of the gears are coincident. One gear of the pair of gears includes an elastic displacement portion that is biased in a direction of rotating the other gear with respect to one gear. The other gear includes a positioning portion that positions the other gear with respect to one gear, and elastic displacement portion contacts positioning portion. |
| US08111468B2 |
Lens barrel and optical apparatus including the same
A lens barrel includes a movable lens unit movable in an optical-axis direction, an actuator configured to move the movable lens unit in the optical-axis direction, a guide member configured to guide the movable lens unit in the optical-axis direction, and a guide-member-holding portion holding the guide member. The guide member is held by the guide-member-holding portion with one end thereof being in a press-fitted state and the other end thereof being in a non-press-fitted state. |
| US08111466B2 |
Variable focus microlens
A microlens chip comprises a variable focus fluidic microlens and actuator. The actuator varies the pressure in a fluidic channel in the microlens chip which is coupled to an aperture opening containing the microlens. Applying an electric field to the actuator creates changes in fluid pressure in the fluidic channel, which in turn changes the radius of curvature (i.e., focal length) of the fluidic microlens. |
| US08111465B2 |
Electrofluidic devices, visual displays, and methods for making and operating such electrofluidic devices
Electrofluidic devices, visual displays formed from the electrofluidic devices, and methods for making and operating such electrofluidic devices Each electrofluidic device has a fluid vessel with first and second regions that contain an electrically conductive polar fluid and a non-polar fluid The polar and/or the non-polar fluids are externally visible external through a viewable area of the second region A voltage source is electrically connected to a capacitor having a hydrophobic surface that contacts the polar fluid and provides a first principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid that is convex and smaller than a second principal radius of curvature of the polar fluid in the first region The voltage source applies an electromechanical force to the polar fluid, thereby transferring the polar fluid from the first region to the second region and causing a spectral property of light transferred through the viewable area to change. |
| US08111464B2 |
Optical lens and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid optical lens which changes a focus due to a change in a shape of a translucent elastic membrane according to a change in a fluid pressure of a lens chamber and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The liquid optical lens forms a dampproof coating membrane on the translucent elastic membrane to prevent a fluid from permeating through the translucent elastic membrane and a swelling phenomenon of the translucent elastic membrane. |
| US08111459B2 |
Laminated polarizing film, phase retardation film, and liquid crystal display device
A laminated polarizing film that is capable of enhancing a viewing angle of a liquid crystal display device, particularly in an IPS mode, is provided. The laminated polarizing film can be obtained by adhering a phase retardation film and a polarizing film by a roll-to-roll process. Specifically, the laminated polarizing film contains a negative substantially uniaxial optical film containing a thermoplastic polymer having a negative molecular polarizability anisotropy, a positive optical film containing a thermoplastic polymer having a positive molecular polarizability anisotropy, and a polarizing film, that are laminated at least in this order, a slow axis within a film plane of the negative substantially uniaxial optical film and a slow axis within a film plane of the positive optical film are substantially in parallel to each other, and each are substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis of the polarizing film, a positional relationship between a principal orientation direction of polymer main chains of the negative substantially uniaxial optical film and the absorption axis of the polarizing film is substantially in parallel, and a positional relationship between a principal orientation direction of polymer main chains of the positive optical film and the absorption axis of the polarizing film is substantially perpendicular. |
| US08111455B2 |
Light source apparatus and laser scanning microscope
A light source apparatus is provided which includes semiconductor laser elements that emit laser light according to an inputted current signal, a light receiving element that receives the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser elements, and a controller that controls light emission of the semiconductor laser elements. The controller includes a first semiconductor laser element drive circuit that outputs a current signal to the semiconductor laser elements according to an instruction signal, a second semiconductor laser element drive circuit that adjusts the current signal based on a light quantity of the laser light received by the light receiving element, and outputs the adjusted current signal to the semiconductor laser elements, and a circuit switching section that switches between the first and the second semiconductor laser element drive circuits according to an instruction signal. |
| US08111449B2 |
Electrophoretic displaying apparatus
An electrophoretic displaying apparatus, comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate placed opposite with a predetermined interval; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the first substrate; signal lines arranged between the adjoining pixel electrodes; an opposed electrode provided on the second substrate; partition walls provided to stand toward the second substrate over the signal lines of the first substrate so as to enclose the plurality of pixel electrodes; and solvents severally containing a plurality of particles dispersed therein to be filled up in regions enclosed by the partition walls, wherein antireflective layer is formed on the first substrate correspondingly to the partition walls, and the signal lines is formed on a layer between the partition walls and the antireflective layer. |
| US08111445B2 |
Spatial light modulator with integrated optical compensation structure
A spatial light modulator comprises an integrated optical compensation structure, e.g., an optical compensation structure arranged between a substrate and a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements, or an optical compensation structure located on the opposite side of the light-modulating elements from the substrate. The individually addressable light-modulating elements are configured to modulate light transmitted through or reflected from the transparent substrate. Methods for making such spatial light modulators involve fabricating an optical compensation structure over a substrate and fabricating a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements over the optical compensation structure. The optical compensation structure may be a passive optical compensation structure. The optical compensation structure may include one or more of a supplemental frontlighting source, a diffuser, a black mask, a diffractive optical element, a color filter, an anti-reflective layer, a structure that scatters light, a microlens array, and a holographic film. |
| US08111440B2 |
Structure and method for modulating light
A structure includes a film having a plurality of nanoapertures and a semiconductor layer in connection with the film. The nanoapertures are configured to allow the transmission of a predetermined subwavelength of light through the film via the plurality of nanoapertures. The semiconductor layer facilitates the modulation of the predetermined subwavelength of light transmitted through the film. The structure also includes a carrier generator for modulating the predetermined subwavelength of light by generating charge carriers. |
| US08111438B2 |
Optical pattern generator using multiple reflective surfaces
An optical pattern generator uses reflection from multiple (e.g., two) internal mirror surfaces mounted on a rotating support structure. |
| US08111431B2 |
Printer for printing packaging
A printer for printing packaging associated with a pharmaceutical product. The printer determines visible information to be provided on the packaging and an identity associated with the pharmaceutical product. The printer uses this to generate coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of the identity. The printer then prints the packaging by printing the coded data and the visible information. |
| US08111427B2 |
Information processing apparatus for outputting image-forming print data to an external image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus through an interface among a plurality of interfaces with different data transfer speeds
In an image forming system, an information processing apparatus (host computer) outputs print data to a printer connected to the apparatus through an interface. The apparatus includes an interface identifying module for identifying the type of the interface, a query module for determining, based on the identified interface type, a quantization method for quantizing print data and/or a compression method, and an image processing module for performing quantization and/or compression on the print data by the determined quantization method and/or compression method. The apparatus outputs, to the printer, the print data processed by the image processing module. |
| US08111425B2 |
Image processing method and image forming device
An image processing method comprises: a step of acquiring recording characteristic information of the recording elements; a step of obtaining inconsistent density correction information from the recording characteristic information acquired in the characteristic information acquiring step; a step of obtaining inconsistency corrected image data from the inconsistent density correction information and data of the input image; a step of generating inconsistency correction unfit image position information by detecting an inconsistency correction unfit image from data of the input image; a step of obtaining image data having an N number of tones from the inconsistency corrected image data; a step of judging whether non-correctable conditions arise according to the inconsistent density correction information and the inconsistency correction unfit image position information; and a step of alerting a user to an image anomaly according to judgment results given in the image anomaly judgment processing step. |
| US08111424B2 |
Color processing apparatus and control method thereof
The number of color patches is reduced to attain high-precision color estimation. Hence, the colorimetric values of a plurality of color patches of at least one primary color output by an output device are input. Based on the colorimetric value of first color patches corresponding to a part of the plurality of color patches, colorimetric values corresponding to second color patches other than the first color patches of the plurality of color patches are estimated. Errors between the input colorimetric values of the second color patches and the estimated colorimetric values corresponding to the second color patches are calculated. A plurality of color patches corresponding to the output device is determined based on the calculated errors. |
| US08111423B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
A converting unit converts a first color signal into a second color signal and a third color signal. A first correcting unit corrects a magnitude relation between hue angles of the third color signal such that a magnitude relation between hue angles of the second color signal corresponding to the first color signal is maintained in the hue angles of the third color signal. The first color signal is a device-dependent input red, green, blue color signal. The second color signal is a color signal of a hue, lightness, saturation color space. The third color signal is a color signal of CIECAM02 color space. |
| US08111415B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same to correct image forming position in an amount smaller than one pixel
An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an image forming position correction unit which corrects an inclination or curve of an image in the main scanning direction by converting coordinates designating pixel positions of a bitmap image in the sub-scanning direction. It is discriminated whether image formation is normal image formation or formation of the toner image for detection by an image forming condition correction unit. Based on the discrimination result, the image forming apparatus is controlled so as to correct the image forming position by using the image forming position correction unit in a case in which the image formation is discriminated as the normal image formation, but so as not to correct the image forming position by using the image forming position correction unit in a case in which the image formation is discriminated as formation of the toner image for detection. |
| US08111414B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program
When information on addition and change of data which is stored in an apparatus and dynamically changes is set as a monitoring target, the information is accumulated in a syndication by an application management interface. Periodically or in response to a request, an update information generation unit reproduces an entry in the syndication as an RSS feed, i.e., XML data complying with the RSS feed standard in accordance with a template, and saves the XML data in an update information storage unit. A computer executes an RSS reader to acquire and display the RSS feed in the update information storage unit. |
| US08111412B2 |
Printer, printing method and printing program for compensating for a loss of a part of a received image
According to a printer of the present invention, the displaying unit creates a print image of the image received by the receiving unit and displays a preview of the print image when the loss detecting unit detects the lost part of the image, and the displaying unit creates a print image of an image obtained as a result of the trimming and displays a preview of the print image when the trimming unit trims the image, and the printing unit prints an image obtained as a result of the trimming by the trimming unit. Consequently, if a user failed in communicating an image as the user did not set an external communication terminal to an appropriate place and the image has been lost, the user can display a preview of the image by removing the lost part by trimming and display the lost part by a preview, check the trimmed image and print it. |
| US08111409B2 |
Detecting apparatus and recording unit
A detecting apparatus includes a target section in which target elements to be detected are arranged in the direction of the motion of a moving body; a detecting section that detects the target elements with the motion of the moving body and outputs a waveform signal having an output level corresponding to its detection sensitivity; a first-digital-signal output section that binarizes the waveform signal with reference to a first threshold to output a first digital signal; a second-digital-signal output section that binarizes the waveform signal with reference to a second threshold which is higher in absolute value than the first threshold to output a second digital signal; and a determining section that determines whether the second digital signal has changed in status. |
| US08111407B2 |
Displacement sensor
A displacement is accurately measured at high speed to a measurement object having various surface states. In a displacement sensor including a confocal optical system in which an objective lens is moved along an optical axis, light emitted from a laser diode is formed into a slit beam by a cylindrical lens, a Y-axis side orthogonal to the optical axis is narrowed such that the light is collected on a surface of a measurement object, and an X-axis orthogonal to the optical axis is elongated in order to average a component of the light reflected from the surface. A photodiode receives the light reflected from the surface of the measurement object through an opening disposed in a position of conjugation with the laser diode. The opening is formed into a slit shape that is short in the Y-axis while being long in the X-axis. The displacement of the surface is measured from a position of the objective lens when a light receiving signal becomes the maximum. |
| US08111404B2 |
Method for determining the dynamic range of volume holographic
A method for measuring a saturated photorefractive index and a recording time constant to correct the precision includes measuring the diffraction efficiency as a function of time for both phase matching and phase mismatching. The saturated photorefractive index and the recording time constant are verified by substitution into a theoretical formula derived from the Coupled Wave Theory. Thus, the method allows a precise determination of the dynamic range of volume holographic memories and thus their storage capacities. The same procedure can also apply to photopolymers. |
| US08111403B2 |
Method and device for non-contact oscillation measurements
A method and a device for non-contact vibration measurement of an object. Method steps include: Moving at least one laser interferometer, which emits at least one measuring beam to at least one measuring point on the object, detecting the measuring beam reflected by the object, determining the vibration data from the emitted and reflected measuring beam, allocating the vibration data to the measuring point, as well as evaluating the vibration data and displaying the vibration data of the measuring point, with at least one comparison of a position of the laser interferometer being performed using at least one position of a known freely predetermined point on the object and a transformation rule being prepared to determine the position of the laser interferometer in reference to the object for arbitrary measuring positions based on the comparison. The device for measuring vibrations is also disclosed. |
| US08111402B2 |
Optical sensing based on overlapping optical modes in optical resonator sensors and interferometric sensors
Techniques and devices based on transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes in an optical resonator or interferometer to provide sensitive optical detection with insensitivity to a change in temperature. A shift in a difference between a first resonance wavelength of a TE optical mode and a second resonance wavelength of a TM optical mode is measured to measure a change in a sample that is in optical interaction with the optical resonator or interferometer. For example, the detected shift can be used to measure a change in a refractive index of the sample. |
| US08111401B2 |
Guided-mode resonance sensors employing angular, spectral, modal, and polarization diversity for high-precision sensing in compact formats
A guided mode resonance (GMR) sensor assembly and system are provided. The GMR sensor includes a waveguide structure configured for operation at or near one or more leaky modes, a receiver for input light from a source of light onto the waveguide structure to cause one or more leaky TE and TM resonant modes and a detector for changes in one or more of the phase, waveshape and/or magnitude of each of a TE resonance and a TM resonance to permit distinguishing between first and second physical states of said waveguide structure or its immediate environment. |
| US08111400B2 |
Surface plasmon resonance sensor
An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen. |
| US08111392B1 |
Raman spectrometer with display of laser power at the sample
A Raman optical method and apparatus is utilized to automatically and accurately recognize laser power measurements made at a desired illumination sample plane. From such a configuration, the methods and systems disclosed herein, enable the support of multiple optical wavelengths coupled with essential components, such as, but not limited to, filters, objectives, reflectors, etc., to provide the capability of displaying and controlling the optical power at the desired sample plane through storage of power calibration factors that are associated with such components. In particular, the system utilized herein, can recognize the installation of components and recalls stored calibration factors that are associated with such components to ensure an accurate power measurement at the illuminated sample plane. |
| US08111390B2 |
Method and apparatus for residue detection in the edge deleted area of a substrate
Apparatus and methods for detecting residue on a glass substrate and method of use are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substrate support, a sensor, a controller and a peripheral device in communication with the controller. The apparatus measures the height or thickness of a main surface and an edge delete surface of a substrate to determine if film residue is present on the edge delete surface. |
| US08111387B2 |
Methods and systems for wheel profile measurement
Methods and systems for determining a parameter of a vehicle wheel are provided. The vehicle wheel is mounted on a shaft having an axis of rotation. The method includes projecting a pattern onto the wheel wherein the pattern includes a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements and determining a dimensional parameter of the wheel utilizing at least two of the plurality of discrete elements. |
| US08111383B1 |
Portable laser surveillance method of a point on a target
A method for surveillance of a point on a target. A portable device is obtained, which includes: a laser range finder operable for measuring distances between the laser range finder and a target, an alarm operable for generating a perceptible signal, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured and arranged to receive an initial distance value and subsequent distance measurements from the laser range finder and compare the values wherein an alarm is triggered id the change in the values is within a specified range. Subsequent steps include statically positioning and operating the device to measure the distance to an object comprising a moveable obstruction to an ingress or egress and monitoring the generation of any signal by the device indicative of movement of the object to permit ingress or egress. |
| US08111379B2 |
Automated determination of height and tilt of a substrate surface within a lithography system
Method and apparatus are provided for automated determination and adjustment of height and tilt of a substrate surface within a lithography system. The method includes: directing a beam of light onto the substrate surface, which reflects off the substrate surface as a reflected beam; optically splitting the reflected beam into a first reflected beam portion and a second reflected beam portion; impinging the first reflected beam portion onto a first detector plane of a first optical detector to generate intensity data, and impinging the second reflected beam portion onto a second detector plane of a second optical detector to generate intensity data, and utilizing the generated data in determining height and tilt of the substrate surface relative to a nominal writing plane of the lithography system. Responsive to the determination, focus or tilt of the system's writing beam, or position of the substrate surface within the system, is adjusted. |
| US08111377B2 |
Lithographic apparatus with an encoder arranged for defining a zero level
A lithographic apparatus includes a position measuring system configured to measure a position of a moveable object with respect to a reference frame of the lithographic apparatus, in at least one direction of an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system of the moveable object. The position measuring system includes an optical x-z-encoder configured to measure a displacement of a radiation source, a first grating, and a detector with respect to a second grating of the encoder. The first grating includes an alignment marker. A controller is configured to define a zero level of the moveable object with respect to the reference frame in at least one of the x- and z-direction by performing the scanning along the first grating, the alignment marker during the scanning step causing changes in the phase of the response of both the first positive and negative orders. |
| US08111372B2 |
Coating film forming apparatus and coating film forming method for immersion light exposure
A coating film forming apparatus for immersion light exposure includes one or more coating units configured to apply a resist film or a resist film and an additional film onto a substrate, one or more thermally processing units configured to perform a thermal process, a defect eliciting unit configured to perform a process for eliciting a latent defect of a coating film at an edge portion of the substrate, a checking unit configured to check a state of the coating film after the process by the defect eliciting unit, a control section configured to use a check result obtained by the checking unit to make a judgment of the state of the coating film and permit transfer of the substrate to the light exposure apparatus, and a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning on the substrate before the process by the defect eliciting unit. |
| US08111370B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal display unit, liquid crystal display device, television receiver, and method for manufacturing color filter substrate
A liquid crystal display panel (1x) includes an active matrix substrate (3), a liquid crystal material (40), and a color filter substrate (30), wherein a spacer (33) is provided between the active matrix substrate (3) and the color filter substrate (30), and the color filter substrate (30) includes a step section (7) for restricting a movement of a spacer, the step section being provided so as to surround the spacer (33). This makes it possible to restrict the movement of the spacer in the liquid crystal display panel, thereby improving evenness of a cell gap. |
| US08111369B2 |
Method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device
A method for manufacturing an LCD device includes preparing first and second substrates and dispensing liquid crystal on the first substrate. A plurality of column spacers are formed on the second substrate, and a seal pattern is formed on the second substrate. The second substrate is inversed and the first and second substrates are bonded to each other to form an LCD panel having a first height (h1) corresponding to a cell gap between the first and second substrates. Pressure is applied to the rear surfaces of the first or second substrates so as to change the cell gap to a second height (h2) smaller than the first height (h2 |
| US08111368B2 |
Liquid crystal display
Exemplary methods and apparatus are provided herein related to display systems. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a display is discussed that includes providing an embossable material and embossing the embossable material to form a plurality of features including at least one geometric adhesive portion. |
| US08111363B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A LCD device includes a gate line on a substrate and a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor source and drain electrodes; a common line parallel to the gate line; a common electrode extended from the common line and a pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode wherein the gate line and the common line have a first conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and the common electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of the common line; and the gate line, the source electrode and the drain electrode have a second conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and the pixel electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of the drain electrode. |
| US08111361B2 |
Method of fabricating liquid crystal display panels having various sizes
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display panel, includes providing a mother substrate having a plurality of display panel regions of different sizes, and forming a plurality of display panel substrates each formed at one of the display panel regions, parts of the display panel substrates to be rubbed being aligned to one side of the mother substrate where rubbing is to start. |
| US08111360B2 |
Transflective LCD unit
A transflective LCD unit includes an array of pixels each including a reflective area and a transmissive area. The LC layer has an effective retardation of λ/4 in the reflective area, and an effective retardation of λ/2 in the transmissive area. A retardation film disposed in the reflective area provides a retardation of λ/2 to the light passed thereby. An angle of θ between the optical axis of the retardation film and the polarized direction of the light is in a range of 0 degree<θ<22.5 degrees. |
| US08111359B2 |
Array substrate, method of manufacturing the same and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same
An array substrate includes a transparent substrate, an organic insulation layer, a pixel electrode, a reflective layer, a light blocking pattern and a switching part. The transparent substrate includes a reflective window that reflects an ambient light and a transmissive window that transmits an artificial light. The organic insulation layer disposed over the transparent substrate becomes thinner gradually at a boundary between the transmissive window and the reflective window. The pixel electrode is formed in the transmissive region. The reflective layer is disposed over the organic insulation layer of the reflective window. The light blocking pattern is disposed at the boundary between the transmissive and reflective windows to prevent a light leakage. The switching part is electrically connected to the pixel electrode to apply an image signal to the pixel electrode. Therefore, a light leakage occurring at boundary is prevented by the light blocking pattern. |
| US08111358B2 |
Dispay panel and display apparatus
Scanning signal lines (41) and data signal lines (47) are arranged so as to cross each other, and common signal lines (42) and the scanning signal lines (41) are arranged to be parallel to each other. Moreover, a polarlizer (37) provided to an upper substrate (36) and a polarlizer (38) provided to a lower substrate (30) are arranged such that absorption axial directions (37a) and (38a) cross at an angle that is orthogonal. Moreover, the absorption axial directions (37a) and (38a) are arranged so as to be perpendicular to or parallel to directions in which the data signal lines (47), the scanning signal lines (41), and the common signal lines (42) are extended, respectively. This realizes an improved response speed and an increased transmissivity. |
| US08111353B2 |
Lens array sheet, light source and liquid crystal display device
A lens array sheet includes a lens layer having a lens surface on which a plurality of lenses are formed in an array, a light reflection layer arranged at an opposite side to the lens surface of the lens layer and having an opening within a light focusing region in the lenses to transmit light, for reflecting light at a site other than the opening, and a light diffusion layer arranged between the lens layer and the light reflection layer, for diffusing light, which passes through the opening and is directed toward the lens layer. |
| US08111347B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device which can prevent lowering of characteristics thereof when a liquid crystal display panel is bent is provided. A liquid crystal display device includes: a bent liquid crystal display panel which includes a first substrate and a second substrate which are fixed to each other by a sealing material, and liquid crystal which is hermetically filled in a space defined between the first substrate and the second substrate; and pressing members which press the first substrate and the second substrate in the direction that the first substrate and the second substrate come closer to each other. The liquid crystal display panel includes a straight line on a surface thereof and is bent along a bent line which surrounds an axis arranged parallel to the straight line. The sealing material includes non-bent portions which extend along the straight line and are not bent, and bent portions which extend along the bent line. The pressing members press the first substrate and the second substrate in regions defined between the non-bent portions of the sealing material and a display region of the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08111344B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a light-sensing thin film transistor disposed at a pixel region
The disclosure describes a liquid crystal display device with a sensing function and a method of fabricating the same. The device comprising gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate, so as to define a pixel region including a pixel electrode; a first switching thin film transistor disposed at a crossing of the gate and data lines; a sensing thin film transistor, disposed at a predetermined portion of the pixel region, that senses external light; a sensing storage capacitor that stores a signal sensed by the sensing thin film transistor; and a second switching thin film transistor that receives the sensing signal stored and reads information that is externally inputted, wherein the sensing storage capacitor and the second switching thin film transistor are provided with a reflective region including a reflective electrode. |
| US08111341B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display according to the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate and including a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode spaced apart from the first sub-pixel electrode by a gap, a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, a shielding member disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate and overlapping the gap between the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode, an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08111340B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes scanning lines; signal lines crossing the scanning lines; thin-film transistors connected to the scanning lines and the signal lines; capacitors connected to the thin-film transistors; interlayer insulating films disposed over the scanning lines with the signal lines, the thin-film transistors, and the capacitors disposed between or on the interlayer insulating films; upper interlayer insulating films disposed above the signal lines, the thin-film transistors, and the capacitors; common lines disposed between or on the upper interlayer insulating films; pixel electrodes disposed between or on the upper interlayer insulating films; and connection holes continuously penetrating the interlayer insulating films disposed between the common lines and the capacitors. The common lines and the capacitors are directly connected via the connection holes, and the connection holes have a ratio of depth to opening width of more than 1. |
| US08111336B2 |
Correcting scanned projector distortion by varying the scan amplitude
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, scanned beam projector may comprise a light source, a scan drive and a scanning platform to project an image onto a projection surface. The scan drive circuit is capable of at least partially correcting distortion in the projected image by varying an amplitude of the scan drive signal to at least partially compensate for the distortion in the projected image. |
| US08111332B2 |
Noise suppression method, noise suppression method program, recording medium recording noise suppression method program, and noise suppression apparatus
An apparatus for suppressing noise of a video signal. The apparatus includes: a difference-signal generation section generating a difference signal being a field or frame difference between the input and the output video signals; a noise compensation-signal generation section generating a noise compensation signal; a noise-compensation signal subtraction section; and a feedback-ratio control section, wherein the feedback-ratio control section includes a signal-level determination section determining a signal level of the difference signal for each area and detecting an abrupt change in an input signal, a count section counting the number of input fields or frames from the time of an abrupt change in a signal level to the subsequent abrupt change, and a feedback-ratio setting section setting a feedback ratio for the area in accordance with a count value, wherein the feedback-ratio setting section sets the feedback ratio such that the ratio gradually increases as the count value increases. |
| US08111330B2 |
Method and apparatus for analog graphics sample clock frequency offset detection and verification
A method and apparatus for an analog-to-digital video signal converter. The converter is controlled by a clock with controllable frequency and phase for sampling an analog signal. A circuit corrects the clock frequency using a period of a columnar frame differences as a function of columnar location. The sampling clock frequency is changed by an amount dependent on the period of the columnar differences. A second measure of the difference between successive frames is computed for a sequence of clock phases. The frequency of the clock is verified using a characteristic of the second measure. The characteristic can be the ratio of the maximum to the minimum of the second measure over selected clock phases. Other characteristics can be used such as a difference of a maximum and a minimum measure. |
| US08111329B2 |
Television receiving system
A television receiving system is disclosed, comprising an input terminal, a down-converter, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a demodulator, and an isolation circuit. The input terminal receives an RF signal. The down*converter, coupled to the input terminal, converts the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The amplifier, coupled to the down-converter, amplifies the IF signal. The analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the amplifier, converts the amplified IF signal to digital data. The demodulator, coupled to the ADC, processes the digital data to generate baseband data. The isolation circuit, coupled between the amplifier and ADC, isolates the amplified IF signal from being affected by interference induced by the ADC. |
| US08111326B1 |
Post-capture generation of synchronization points for audio to synchronize video portions captured at multiple cameras
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to synchronizing portions of video as a function of the post-capture generation of synchronization points for audio, the portions of video being captured at multiple cameras. |